figlt (fig)

i.; pret. and pp. figged, ppr. figging. [Another form, with sonant g for surd k, of fick, fike2, q. v. Hence the a ibilated form fidge, and freq. fidget, q. v.] To move suddenly or quickly; rove about. Like as a Hound, that (following loose, behinde His pensive Master) of a Hare doth finde; Leaves whom he loves, vpon the scent doth ply, Figs to and fro, and fals in cheer full Cry. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Handy-Crafts. fig2 (fig), n. [ fig , fyg , fygge , pl. figes , fig is , figgus (rarely fyke , fic ), a fig-tree, a fig, also piles, figue , fige (prob. fie , F. figue Pr. fig a , figua , also fia = Sp. hi go , OSp. Pg. figo = It. fico = AS. fic (in comp.) = OS. fig a = D. vijg = MLG. vige = OHG. fig a , MHG. rige , G. feige = Icel. fīkja = OSw. fika , Sw. fikon = Dan. figen , ficus , fem. (rarely masc.), a fig-tree, a fig, also the piles.] 1. The common name for species of the genus Ficus , and for their fruit. The common fig, F. Carica , is a native of the Mediterranean region; it has been cultivated from a very remote date, and is now found in most IMG:content-1287.png:[graphic][merged small] warm temperate countries. It is a small tree, with large, rough, deciduous leaves, and a pyriform fruit, which varies much in size, color, and flavor, and of which two crops are usually borne each season. This fruit consists of a hollow, fleshy receptacle filled with a multitude of minute nutlets or so-called seeds, the ripened ovaries of the pistillate flowers which covered the interior. When green the fig has a milky, acrid juice, which becomes sweet and mucilaginous at maturity. The Turkey or Smyrna figs of commerce, which are the most esteemed, are large and pulpy. A superior quality of these are known as eleme figs elleme, hand-picked). What a, Section of Female Floret of Fig; d. Section of Fruit of Fig. are called Greek figs are small and dry. The number of cultivated varieties is large. Figs are used in medicine as a mild laxative. The wild fig, or caprifig, is the staminate and sterile form of the same species. Of other species, F. Sycamorus , Pharaoh's fig, or the sycamore fig, is a large tree of Egypt, the fruit of which is eaten by the Arabs. Its light, durable wood was used by the Egyptians as the material for their mummy cases. F. religiosa , the sacred fig of India, is also known as the pippul- or bo - tree (which see). F. pedunculata is the wild or red fig of southern Florida and the West Indies, a tree sometimes 40 feet high, and spreading by aerial roots, with a very small, globose fruit. The black fig of Jamaica is F. laurifolia and F. cra in err i a . In Australia. F. macrophylla is known as the More ton Bay fig, a noble tree with a broadly buttre ed trunk. F. rubiginosa , the Port Jackson fig, is a tree with rooting branches, similar to the banian. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or jigs of thistles? Mat. vii. 16. Feed him with apricocks, and dewberries; With purple grapes, green figs , and mulberries. Shak., M. N. D., iii. 1. 2. A name given to various plants having a fruit somewhat resembling the fig.-3. A flo- fig-dust (fig'dust), n. Finely ground oatmeal, used as food for caged birds. fig-eater (fig'ē"tér), n. [A translation of L. ficedula , a name of some small bird, or rather of various small birds that eat figs. Cf. the similar beccafico .] 1. An old name given by 4. The fig-tree.-5. A raisin. [Prov. Eng.] In Cornwall, raisins are called figs : "a thoomping figgy pudden," a big plum pudding. Spec. of Cornish Dialect , p. 53. 6. In farriery, an excrescence on the frog of a horse's foot following a bruise.-7. A con- temptuous gesture, pretended to be of Spanish origin, which consisted in thrusting out the thumb between the first and second fingers. Also called fig of Spain and fico . Pist . Figo for thy friendship. Flu. It is well. Some ship that fights the gale On this wild December night. sis . Also fig - pecker . -2. In entom . , a scarabæoid beetle, All or hin a nitid a . [Southern U. S.] figentt (fij'ent), a. [Also fichent , figient ; fig1 or fidge + -ent , as if from a L. ppr., or prob. the ME. ppr. suffix -ende , -and, etc.] Fidgety. I have known such a wrangling advocate, Such a little figent thing: oh, I remember him; A notable talking knave! I tell you, a sailor's cap! 'Slight, God forgive me! what kind of figent memory have you? Marston, Jonson, and Chapman , Eastward Ho, iii. 2. I never could stand long in one place, yet; I learnt it of my father, ever figient . figetive (fij'e-tiv), a . In her ., same as fitché . fig-faun (fig'fân), n . [Tr. L. faun us ficarius , in the Vulgate.] A mythical being, a creature supposed to feed upon figs. 8. As a colloquial standard of value or consid- eration, the merest trifle; the least bit: as, your opinion is not worth a fig ; I don't care a fig for it. Adam's fig, the banana, Musa sapientium . - A terous insect of the group Agaonida . Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig - fauns , Jer. 1. 39 (Douay version). fig for (this or that), a phrase used elliptically for "I don't care a fig for," etc., to expre the speaker's scorn for some insignificant or worthle person or thing. Tarie till wee can get but three, Robin Hood and the Peddlers (Child's Ballads, V. 246). I'll pledge you all, and a fig for Peter! IMG:content-1288.png:[blocks in formation] Mrs. Cent livre, The Gamester, iii. Yet whoop, Jack! ki Gillian the quicker, Till she bloom like a rose, and a fig for the vicar! Scott , L. of the L., vi. 5. A fig of Spaint. See def. 7, above. - Balsam fig, of Ja- maica, Clusia rose a . - Cochineal fig, a species of cactus, Nopalea cochin ill if era . - Country fig, of Sierra Leone, the Sarcocephalus esculent us , a rubiaceous tree or shrubby climber bearing an edible fruit. - Hottentot fig, the Me- fig2+ (fig), v . t . [ fig2 , n . , 7, and fico . When Pistol lies, do this; and fig me, like The bragging Spaniard. Shak ., 2 Hen. IV., v. 3. and followed by, the Lord Mayor in full fig . R. H. D. Barham , Mem. of R. H. Barham, in In golds by IMG:content-1289.png:[blocks in formation] fig3 (fig), v . t .; pret. and pp. figged , ppr. figging . fig3, n.] 1. To dre or deck: as, to fig one out. [Slang.]-2. To trick or hocus, as a horse, so as to make the animal appear lively or spirit- ed, as by putting a piece of ginger into the anus. fig. A common abbreviation of figure . fig-apple (fig'ap'l), n. [ fig2 + apple . Cf. AS. fapppel , lit. fig-a fig-apple,' a fig.] A species of apple without a core or kernel. figaryt (fi-ga'ri), n. [Also fegary , figuary ; cor- rupted from vagary .] A vagary. Leave your wild figaries , and learn to be a tame antic. Ford , Fancies, iii. 3. He said Selina was mi ed two or three hours on the wedding morn; some figary , I know not what. Shirley, Love Tricks, v. 1. fig-banana (fig'ba-nan"ä), n . A small variety of the banana, common in the West Indies and highly esteemed there. oils of which soft soap is made: so called from its resemblance to the granular texture of a fig. fig-gnat (fig'nat), n. A gnat, Culex ficarius , of the family Culicidæ , injurious to the fig, into figgumt (fig'um), n. [Mere jargon.] Jugglers' tricks generally; especially, the trick of spit- ting fire. Sir P. Eith . O no, he plays at figgum : The devil is the author of wicked jiggum . B. Jonson, Devil is an A , v. 5. figgy (fig'i), a . [ fig2 + -y1.] 1. Full of figs or raisins: as, a figgy pudding. [Prov. Eng.] - 2. Resembling figs; specifically, in soap - mak- ing, containing white granulations of stearate of potash. See figging . The quality of soft soap is thought to depend in some measure upon the existence of white particles diffused through the ma , producing the appearance called " figgy ." O'Neill, Dyeing and Calico Printing, p. 408. figgy-dowdie (fig'i-dou"di), n. Naut., plum- duff. Hamersly. fight (fit), v .; pret. and pp. fought , ppr. fighting . [ fighten , fihten , fehten , etc., feohtan (pret. feaht , pl. fuhton , pp. fohten ) OFries. IMG:content-1290.png:[blocks in formation] MHG. vehten , G. fechten (> Norw. fikta = Sw. fäkta = Dan. fægte ), fight. On the supposition that the radical vowel of the inf. was orig. u (as in pret. and pl.) and not e ( eo ), i. e., that the Goth. form, which is not recorded, was * fiuhtan , a connection has been sought with L. pugnare , fight, Gr. πυκτεύειν , fight, box, πύκτης , & boxer; a similar connection then existing between L. pugna , Gr. πυγμή , fist, and E. fist1 , Goth. as if fuhsti : see pugnacious and fist1 .] I. in trans. 1. To engage in battle or in single combat; contend in arms; attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an adversary by physical means. Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side. I'll fight till from my bones the flesh be hack'd. Shak ., Macbeth, v. 3. 2. To contend in any way; struggle for the gaining of an end; strive vigorously: as, to fight against disease; to fight in a political campaign. With the choking weeds the tulip fought , Paler and smaller than he had been erst. William Morris , Earthly Paradise, II. 176. As long as any man exists, there is some need of him; let him fight for his own. Emerson, Nominalist and Realist. That cock won't fight. See cock1 . To fight shy of, to avoid from a feeling of dislike, fear, mistrust, ditt i- dence, etc, IMG:content-1291.png:[blocks in formation] Come and go with me to Nottingham, And there we will fight it out . fight (fit), n. [ fight , fiht , feht , feoht , etc., AS. feoht , commonly ge - feoht , also feohte , a fight, battle, = OS. fehta = OFries. fiucht = D. gevecht = MLG. vacht, vachte , vechte = OHG. fehta , MHG. vehte , G. gefecht , a fight; from the verb.] 1. A battle; an attempt to overcome or defeat by physical means; a contest with natural or other weapons. These shifts refuted, answer thy appellant, Though by his blindne maim'd for high attempts, Who now defies thee thrice to single jight , As a petty enterprise of small enforce. IMG:content-1292.png:[blocks in formation] as fight , v . , + -er1 .] One who fights; a com- batant; especially, one who is disposed to fight, or who fights well. But the fortune of feghters may be fell chaunse. Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), l. 1751. fits a dull fighter. Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 2. When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings , within were fears. 2 Cor. vii. 5. From whence come wars and fightings among you? Jas. iv. 1. fighting (fi'ting), p . a. [Ppr. of fight , v. In second sense, attrib. use of fighting , n.] 1. Qualified or trained to fight; fit to fight: as, fighting armies. Sexty thowsande mene, the syghte was fulle hugge, Alle fyghtande folke of the ferre laundes. Morte Arthure (E. E. T. S.), 1. 4067. Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands. 2 Chron, xxvi. 11. IMG:content-1293.jpg:[blocks in formation] 2. Of or pertaining to battle; characteristic of ing on the thought of some particular person a disposition to fight. In the hurry of human events that marks our modern wars, mere fighting qualities, even of the best, have little to do in bringing about great results. N. A. Rev., CXLII. 468. 3. Occupied in war; being the scene of war: as, a fighting field.