finisher (finisher)

1. One who or that which finishes, completes, or perfects. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. xii. 2. He that of greatest works is finisher Oft does them by the weakest minister. Shak ., All's Well, ii. 1. Specifically-(a) In bookbinding, a workman who takes the incomplete book as left by the forwarder and finishes the work with gilding and decoration by various methods, (b) In stereotyping and electrotyping, a workman who per must be true, provided the premises are true. But if the generations of Hottentots are everlasting, each Hottentot might kill one of his children, and yet some Hottentots might die natural deaths. Reasoning by transposed quantity is indispensable in the higher arithmetic and algebra; and consequently in these branches of mathematics the distinction between finite and infinite cla es is very important. (b) As applied to continuous quantity, smaller than a suitably chosen finite number multiplied into the unit of measurement, and larger than a suitably chosen finite number divided by the unit of measurement. On account of the finite speed of light, each star appears to describe in space a circle of fixed magnitude, in a plane parallel to that of the ecliptic. Tait , Light, § 66. (c) In gram . , limited by person; personal; strictly verbal; not infinitival nor participial. 2. Subject to limitations or conditions, such as those of space, time, circumstances, and the laws of nature: as, a finite being; finite existence or duration. Only I discern Infinite pa ion and the pain Of finite hearts that yearn. Brouning, Two in the Campagna. 3. Of or pertaining or relating to finite beings: as, finite pa ions or interests.- Calculus of finite differences. See calculus. - Finite canon, in music, a canon whose theme comes to a definite end, instead of perpetually returning into itself. See canon1.Finite existence, the mode of existence of everything except God; existence in the ordinary sense, not transcending our power to imagine it; contingent existence.Finite term. (a) Iu logic, a noun or verb not contain IMG:content-1353.png:[blocks in formation] edges on either side, as a plow; specifically, in her ., having the fins of a different tincture from the rest: said of a fish used as a bearing: as, a fish sable finned or. They plough up the turf with a broad finned plough. Mortimer, Husbandry. finner1 (fin'er), n. [ fin1 + -er1 .] A fin-whale or a finback; any member of the Balanopterida . - Oregon finner, the finback whale or razorback, Balæ noptera velifera. Sharp-headed finner, the smallest species of Balænoptera known on the western coast of the United States; the Balenoptera davidson i : generally call- ed by the whalemen a young finback . finner2 (fin'er), n. Same as finnaс . nnac. [Scotch.] finner-whale (fin'ér-hwal), n. Same as finner1 , Finnic (fin'ik), a. [ Finnic people. resent the oldest forms among the Uralo-Altaic groups. Encyc. Brit ., IX. 219. Ural-Altaic family of man, scattered over northern Rus- sia and Scand in a via, Siberia, and Hungary, and including the Finns proper, Lapps, Esthonians, Livonians, Tchuds, Permians, Ugrians, Ostiaks, Magyars, etc. They all ex- hibit physical resemblances, and speak similar agglutina- tive languages, unlike any others spoken in Europe, but related to the Samoyedic, Turkish, Mongolian, and Tun- gusic languages. Their language is also called Ugrian and Finno -Hungarian, fin nicking, finnikin, a. and n. See finicking , finikin. finning (fin'ing), n. in dying. See to fin out , under fin1 , v . i. Finnish (fin'ish), a . and n . [=Sw. Dan. Finsk = Icel. Finnskr ; as Finn + -ish1.] I. a. Of or pertaining to Finland or its inhabitants, or the Finnic race. II. n. The language spoken by the Finns proper, called by themselves Suomi . It is a dia- lect of the Ugrian or Finno-Hungarian branch of the Ural Altaic or Scythian family, and is proximately related to the Lappish and many languages of the aborigines of Rus- sia, and to the Hungarian. See Finnic. finny (fin'i), a. [ fin1 + -yl.] 1. Having fins; finned: as, finny fish. The fish-market was full of finny monsters of the deep, all new and strange to us. Lady Bra ey, Voyage of Sunbeam, I. iv. 2. Fishy; fish-like; of the nature of fish: as, the finny tribes. She rules the feather'd Kind and finny Race. Congreve, Hymn to Venus. 3. Containing fish: as, the finny deep. Gold- smith . finochio (fi-nō'ki-ō), n. [It. finocchio , fennel, feniculum , fennel: see fennel .] Fœniculum dulce , a variety of fennel; sweet fennel. Lou- finos (fēnōs), n . pl . [Sp.. pl. of fino , fine, excel- lent: see fine2 .] Wool from merino sheep next in quality to the best: a trade-term. fin-pike (fin'pik), n. A fish of the family Po- lypteridæ and genus Polypterus ; a polypterid. See bichir . fin-ray (fin'rā), n. One of the rays of the fin of a fish. See the extract, and cut under scapu- locoracoid . A form of dermal exoskeleton, which is peculiar to and highly characteristic of fishes, is found in the fin -rays. or le calcified, substance, and are simple at the base, but become jointed transversely, and split up longitudinally, toward their extremities. Huxley, Anat. Vert., p. 41. fin-spine (fin's pin), n. a spinous ray of a fin. fin-spined (fin's pind), a . acanthopterygious. fintt, v. A Middle English and Anglo-Saxon contraction of findeth . See find . fintock (fin'tok), n. [ fiundac .] A Scot- tish name for the cloudberry, Rubus fin-toed (fin'tōd), a . Same as fin - footed . finweed (fin'wed), n. A local English name of the On on is arvensis . the best examples. True fiords can exist only where a steep and lofty mountain-range borders closely on the sea. King Olaf's ships came sailing Northward out of Drontheim haven To the mouth of Salten Fiord . The frozen fiords were fishle , The earth withheld her grain. fiorett, n. Same as fleuret . fiorin (fi'ō-rin), n. [Ir. fiorthan , a long coarse gra .] An Irish name for white or marsh bent, Agrostis vulgar is , var. alba , a common gra in fiorite (fiō'rit), n. [ Fiore in Tuscany (where it is found) + -ite2 .] A variety of si- licious sinter found incrusting volcanic tufa. It is found in the vicinity of hot springs and volcanoes in globular, botryoidal, and stalactitic concretions with a pearly luster, and consists of silica (sometimes impure from the presence of alumina), iron peroxid, and water. Geyserite is a variety occurring about the orifices of gey- fioritura (fyō-ri-tö'rä), n.; pl. fioriture (-re). [It., lit. a flowering, flourishing, fiorire , flower, flourish: see flourish .] In music , an ornament or embellishment, as a trill, turn, etc., intro- duced into a melody: commonly in the plural. fipl (fip), v . t .; pret. and pp. fipped , ppr. fipping . [E. dial., a reduction of fillip or flip1 . Cf. G. fippsen , fillip, fipps , a fillip.] To fillip. [Prov. Eng.] fip2 (fip), n. [An abbr. of fippenny .] A fippenny bit. [Local, U. S.] I haven't hardly a hair left to my hide, or a pewter fip in my pocket. S. Judd , Margaret, ii. 7. fippence (fip'ens), n. A contracted form of five- pence . But how the fyr was maked up on highte, And eke the names how the trees highte, As ook, jirre , birch, etc. fin-whale (fin'hwal), n. Same as finner1 , fin-winged (fin'wingd), a . Having wings like fins or flippers, as a penguin. fiord, fjord (fyord), n. [Also fyord ; fjord = Sw. fjärd = Icel. fjördhr , a frith, a bay (larger than a vik , a small crescent- formed inlet or creek); akin to E. ford , and to L. port us , a haven. From the Icel. fjördhr comes ME. firth , mod. E. firth , frith : see frith2 , firth2 , ford , port .] A deep indentation of the land, forming a comparatively narrow arm of fir-apple (fèr'ap'l), n . A fir-cone. [Eng.] the sea, with more or le precipitous slopes fir-cone (fer'kon), n. The cone-shaped fruit of or cliffs on each side. The coast of Norway offers the fir. fire (fir), n. [Early mod. E. also fyre; fire , fir , fyre, fyr, fier , fyer , fur , etc., für = OS. fiur = OFries. fior , fiur = D. vier , vuur = MLG. vür , viur, vuir, vuer, LG. vür , vüer = OHG. fuir , later fiur , MHG. vuir , viur , G. feuer = Icel. fyri (and poet. fürr ) = Sw. Dan. fyr = Umbrian pir = Gr. πῦρ , fire (> E. pyre, q. v.), dial. πύϊρ (cf. πυρσός , a torch). Differ- ent words are used in Goth. ( fon , gen. fūnins , fire; cf. Icel. fun i , a flame), in L. and Skt. (L. ignis = Skt. agni , fire), and in Rom. (It. fuoco =Sp. fuego = Pg. fogo = F. feu , fire, focus , fireplace: see fuel , focus ).] 1. The visible heat, or light, evolved by the action of a high tem- perature on certain bodies, which are in con- sequence styled inflammable or combustible; combustion, or the heat and light evolved dur- ing the proce of combustion. Anciently, fire, air, earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all things are composed; and fire continued until comparatively recent times to be considered a distinct im- ponderable substance, existing throughout the universe in the supposed form of caloric. See combustion , flame. The Lindsays flew like fire about, Till all the fray was done. IMG:content-1354.png:[blocks in formation] Mrs. Rebecca Quickly, whom he married, had all that the fire of youth and a lively manner could do towards making an agreeable woman. Steele , Spectator, No. 100. And ble their Critic with a Poet's fire. Pope , E ay on Criticism, 1. 676. Pitt's. ardour and his noble bearing put fire into the most frigid conceit. Macaulay , William Pitt. 12. Subjection to evil effects of any kind; es- pecially, overwhelming trouble; severe trial: used with reference to the old or savage prac- tice of trial or torture by fire, and especially to the pa ing through the fire to Moloch men- subjected to the fires of affliction. Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow As seek to quench the fire of love with words. Shak., T. G. of V., ii. 7. Wheresoe'er I am, by night and day, All earth and air seem only burning fire. Torkington, Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 35. Now the king sat in the winter house in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. Jer. xxxvi. 22. In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire With good old folks. Palladius , Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 28. Where two raging fires meet together, They do consume the thing that feeds their fury. Shak., T. of the S., ii. 1. Grub-street! thy fall should men and gods conspire, Thy stage shall stand, ensure it but from fire . Till the last fire burn all between the poles. Cowper , Conversation, 1. 756. 4. A spark or sparks; specifically, a spark, as from red-hot iron, or from flint or other stones when struck. His spurs o' steel were sair to bide, And fra her fore-feet flew the fire . 5. Flashing light; vivid luster; splendor. She is very beautiful, and very like her father, with eyes full of fire , and great expre ion in all her features. Macaulay , Life and Letters, I. 211. 6. In precious stones, the quality of refracting and dispersing light, and the brilliancy of effect that comes from this quality.-7. A luminous body; a star. [Poetical.] Seven lamps, as in a zodiac representing The heavenly fires . Milton, P. L., xii. 256. Fire from ten you sand at once of the rebels that girdled us round. Tennyson, Defence of Lucknow. They were under fire for more than two hours, and every ve el was struck many times, but with little damage to the gunboats. U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 463. ranged that the metal, in the form of "stamps" (bars broken into pieces weighing about a quarter of a hundred each), is heated in the flames, and does not come in di- rect contact with the fuel, thus avoiding contamination by sulphur. (b) A fire burning chiefly in the interior of the ma of fuel, so as to avoid waste of the coal by com- busti on on the outside, where it is not in contact with the metal. For the common blacksmith's fire semi-bituminous coal is preferred. - Holy fire, in the Roman Catholic and Oriental churches, a light kindled on Holy Saturday (the Saturday preceding Easter Sunday) by sparks from a flint, and used to relight the church lamps, all of which are ex- tinguished on Good Friday. In the Greek Church the fire is claimed to be a miraculous gift from heaven. At Rome the ceremony is performed in presence of the pope. At Jerusalem the lighting of the holy fire is celebrated by the Greek and Armenian clergy combined in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, amid a scene of wild enthusiasm on the part of the spectators. Kentish fire. See Kentish.- Letters of fire and sword, in the ancient law of Scot- land, letters of ejectment i ued by the Privy Council, and directed to the sheriff of the county, authorizing him to call the a istance of the county to dispo e a tenant who re- tained his po e ion contrary to the order of the judge and the diligence of the law. Line of fire ( mil it .), a line formed by the prolongation of the axis of a firearm for. ward. - Oblique fire, a phrase noting a form of action in firearms, in which the plunger which explodes the cart- ridge moves obliquely to the axis of the barrel. On fire, ignited; inflamed; burning; hence, figuratively, eager; ar- dent; zealous. See afire. Receiv'd my heart an offering all on fire , Kindled, and fed, and blown by strong Desire. J. Beaumont , Psyche, ii. 88. All frets Out of the frying-pan into the fire. See frying pan.- Primitive fire, a fire which, according to Her a clit us and other ancient philosophers, was the primitive material out of which the universe was formed. - Rotating fires. See firework.-Running fire ( mil it . ), the rapid discharge of firearms by a line of troops in succe ion. - St. Anthony's fire. Same as erysipelas . - St. Elmo's fire. Same as cor- posant. St. Francis's firet, probably the same as St. Anthony's fire. All these, and many evils moe haunt ire, The swelling Splene, and Frenzy raging rife, The shaking Palsey, and Saint Fraunces fire. The fat is in the fire. give fire, to hang fire. of fire on one's head. See fat1.- To bank a fire, to See the verbs. - To heap coals See coal . - To play with fire, to meddle carele ly or ignorantly with a dangerous mat- ter; do anything lightly or for amusement that may cause great trouble or suffering.- To pour oil on the fire, to add fuel to the flame - that is, to do or say something likely to intensify existing pa ion or trouble. - To set on fire. (a) To apply fire to; cause to burn. A dropping fire. See drop , v. i . - A flaught o' fire. See flaught.-Artillery fire. See def. 13. -Ascending fires, See firework . Baptism of fire. See baptism . - Blind fire. See blind 1. - Center fire. See center -fire. Central fire, a fire which, according to the Pythagoreans, occupies the center of the universe and was the first thing made, being the germ of everything else. Copernicus and others supposed the sun was intended. - Chinese fire, a com- position used in fireworks. It consists of 16 parts of gun- powder, 8 of niter, 3 of charcoal, 10 of small cast-iron bor- ings, and 3 of sulphur.- Colored fires, the tinted flames per, and other metals, or the compositions used to produce such flames. Various mixtures are employed, and the lights (b) Figuratively, to become inflamed; be violently excited are used for signals, in pyrotechny, etc. - Cro fire. See cro fire. Curved fire. See the extract. Elmo's fire. Same as corposant . - False fire. ( a ) A blue flame made by burning certain combustibles in a wooden tube, used as a signal during the night. (b) A fire kindled with the object of leading a ship to destruction; a false or misleading beacon. Shipwrecked, kindles on the coast False fires , that others may be lost. Fire of the periphery, a fire which, according to the Pythagoreans and other ancient philosophers, occupies the circumference of the universe. Fixed fires. See fire- work. Greek fire, a combustible composition the con- stituents of which are supposed to have been asphalt, niter, and sulphur. It would burn on or under water, and was used with great effect in war by the Greeks of the Eastern Empire, who kept its composition secret for several hun- dred years. Upon the conquest of Constantinople the secret came into the po e ion of the Mohammedans, to whom it rendered repeated and valuable service. Also Grecian fire. The saple wood, divested of the bark, Grows fungous, and takes fire at every spark. Cowper , Conversation, 1. 54. I am no courtier, of a light condition, Apt to take fire at every beauteous face, That only serves his will and wantonne . Reed is dale has fired our house. Reed is dale and Wise William (Child's Ballads, VIII. 91). Captain Swan ordered the Town to be fired , which was presently done. Dampier , Voyages, I. 145. 2. To expose to the action of fire; prepare by the application of heat; bake: as, to fire pot- tery; to fire a stack of bricks. [Rarely used of culinary proce es.] Out he flash'd, And into such a song, such fire for fame, Such trumpet-blowings in it, That when he stopt, we long'd to hurl together. Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. thus obtaining the victory. Quoted in Hewitt's Ancient Armour, I. 328. Hollow fire. (a) A peculiar kind of hearth or furnace used in the manufacture of iron for tin-plates, and so ar The dough is.. cut into small scones, which, when fired , are handed round the company. Rev. J. Nicol , Poems, I. 28, note IMG:content-1355.png:[blocks in formation] Truly to tread that virtuous path you walk in, So fir'd her honest soul, we thought her sainted. Fletcher, Loyal Subject, v. 2. Let Ambition fire thy Mind, Thou wert born o'er Men to Reign. Congreve, Judgment of Paris. Virgil seldom rises into very astonishing sentiments where he is not fired by the Iliad. Add is on , Spectator, No. 279. simple device, and only signals and not me ages are sent over the lines. Some fire-alarm telegraphs are also con- fire-blast (fir'blast), n. A disease of hops, eiefly occurr chiefly occurring toward the latter periods ods of their growth, in which they appear as if burned by fire. fire-annihilator (fir'a-ni"hi-la-tor), n. An apparatus for extinguishing fire; a fire-ext in fire-blight guisher. cies of stinging ants of the family Myrmecida . fire-boat (fir'bot), n. firearm (fir'ärm), n . A weapon from which a steam-pumps, hose, and other appliances appliances for IMG:content-1356.png:[blocks in formation] fire-backed (fir'bakt), a. Hav- ing the plumage of the back of a fiery color: as, a fire - backed pheasant. The German gun fired 30 rounds in 16 minutes. Michael is , tr. of Month aye's Krupp and De Bange, p. 94. When, from under this terrestrial ball, He [the sun) fires the proud tops of the eastern pines. Shak., Rich. II., iii. 2. 10. To eject, dismi , or expel forcibly or per- emptorily: commonly with out . See to fire out (b), below. [Slang, U. S.] - A ball fired, in her . See balll . To fire off, to discharge as a mi ile, literally IMG:content-1357.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-1358.png:[blocks in formation] firebrand (fir'brand), n . and a. [ fyre- brand, furbrond (= G. feuerbrand ); fire + brand.] I. n. 1. A piece of wood kindled or on fire; a piece of any burning substance. It semes that God made us in vayne When. In erth, bot to be fyrebrandes in helle. he made us for noght els to dwelle Hampole , Prick of Conscience, 1. 7418. This in a Fire - brand may we see, whose Fire Doth in his Flame toward's natiue Heav'n aspire. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 2. As a mad man who casteth firebrands , arrows, and Prov. xxvi. 18. the last result by the light of its own comb us- tion.-3. Globe-lightning; an electrical phe- no men on sometimes seen in thunder-storms, having the appearance of a globe of fire falling death. from the clouds and often bursting with a loud report. The fire - ball is almost incomparably le brilliant than forked lightning, because, though it lasts long enough to give the full impre ion of its brightne , it is rarely bright- er than iron in the state which we call "red-hot." 4. A ball composed of very fine anthracite coal or dust and clay, used to kindle fires.-5. The scarlet lychnis, Lychnis Chalcedonic a .-6. In her ., same as ball fired (which see, under balll ): as, a fire - ball fired in four places. fire-balloon (fir'ba-lön"), n . 1. A balloon be- neath and attached to which is a fire by which the air contained in it is heated and rarefied, thus causing it to rise. 2. A balloon sent up at night with fireworks, which ignite at a regu- lated height. IMG:content-1359.png:[blocks in formation] fire-barrel (fir'bar"el), n. A hollow cylinder filled with various kinds of combustibles, used fire-basket (fir'basket), n. A portable grate in fire-ships to convey the fire to the shrouds. fire-bavin (fir'bav"in), n . A bundle of brush- wood for lighting a fire: used in fire-ships. fire-beacon (fir'bē kon), n . In her ., a beacon used as a bearing. It is represented as a cre et on a pole or mast, sometimes having a ladder leading up to it; or as a square box with posts at the corners, and shown to be of iron from the division of the plates, bolt- heads, etc. ing an alarm of fire. Such bells are now, in cities, commonly sounded by electricity, the number of strokes indicating the district within which the fire occurs. fire-bill (fir'bil), n . Naut ., a bill showing the proper distribution of the officers and crew on board a man-of-war in case of an alarm of fire. fire-bird (für berd), n. A popular name of the Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula . See oriole. is blazoned as firebrand inflamed. It is represented as a torch or as a pale or pallet raguly couped. In the latter case it is always inflamed at the top. II. a . Of an incendiary nature. (Rare.] Our firebrand brother, Paris, burns us all. Shak ., T. and C., ii. 2. A brick made of mate- fire-brick (fir'brik), n . rial which will not fuse readily in a kiln or fur- nace: used for lining furnaces, etc. fire-bridge (fir'brij), n. A low wall of fire-brick, which in a reverberatory furnace separates the furnace from the hearth or working-place. Also called flame-bridge, flame - stop . fire-brieft (fir'bref), n. A circular letter soli- citing subscriptions for sufferers from a fire. Nares . We laugh at fire - briefs now, although they be Commended to us by his Majesty. IMG:content-1360.png:[blocks in formation] melt, nor even perceptibly soften when exposed to a high temperature. The most important articles made of fire-clay are fire-bricks and crucibles. Much of the clay a ociated with the coal of the Carboniferous series is sufficiently refractory to be used for this purpose. Stour bridge, Worcesters hire, England, is a locality famous for manufactures of this kind. In New Jersey a belt of rocks of Cretaceous age extends acro the State, from Staten Island sound southwest to the Delaware, with which are a ociated clays of various kinds. Along this belt the manufacture of fire-bricks and crucibles is a busine of importance.