fringilla

[Lat.=a finch-either the robin redbreast or the chaffinch.] Ornith.: The typical genus of the family Fringil A. As adj .: Lusty, fresh, or strong. "My frim and lusty flank Her bravery then displays, with meadows hugely rank." Drayton: Polyolbion , s. 13. B. As adv .: Luxuriantly, strongly. "Twelue sythez on yer thay [trees) beren ful frym." E. Eng. Allit. Poems ; Pearl , 1,078. Fri-mäire', s. [Fr.] Calendar & Hist .: A term meaning frosty or sleety, adopted, in October, 1793, by the French Convention, for the third month of the republican year. It commenced on November 21st, and ended on December 20th. fringe, s . [Fr. frange , from Lat. fimbria =(sing.) a fiber, (pl.) a fringe; Sp. & Port. franja ; Prov. Fr. frinche; Dut. franje; Dan. fryndse; Ger. franse.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. Literally : *(1) A bunch or cluster of fibers. "The root hath beards or fringes as it were hanging about it, and is in fashion shaped to a filberd nut." P. Holland : Pliny , bk. xxv., ch. vi. (2) An ornamental border to dre or furniture, consisting of loose threads. nœus had an extensive genus of this designation. The bill is lengthened and conic, the culmen not curved, the tip slightly notched, but not inflexed, the commi ure straight, the claws small and slender, only slightly curved. frin-gil-lā-çe-oŭs (or ceo us as shŭs), a . [Lat., ., fringill (a) (q.v.); Eng. suff. -aceous .] Ornith.: Belonging to or in any way connected with the Finches or Fringillide (q. v.). frin-gil-11-dæ, s. pl. [Latin fringill (a) (q. v.), and fem. pl. adj. suff. -idœ.] Ornith.: A family of conirostral birds. They are generally of small size, with short, conic bills, thick at the base and not notched, their tip acute. The tarsi are generally compre ed and slender, with seven scutella, the hind toe often longer than the rest. The genera and species are very numerous and widely distributed. Mr. G. R. Gray divides the family into nine sub-families: (1) Ploceinse (Weaverbirds), (2) Coccothraustine (Grosbeaks), (3) Tanagrinse (Tanagers), (4) Fringilline (Tree Finches), (5) Ember i zine (Buntings), (6) Alaudine (Larks), (7) Pyrrhulinse (Bullfinches), (8) Loxine (Cro bills), and (9) Phytotominse (Plant cutters). frin-gil-li-næ, s . pl . [Lat. fringilla (q. v.), and fem. pl. adj. suff.- inæ .] Ornith.: The typical sub-family of Fringillidse. fring-ing, pr . par ., a. & 8. [FRINGE, v.] A. & B. As pr. par. & particip . adj .: (See the IMG:content-0162.png:[blocks in formation] "The stream late concealed By the fringe of its willows." Byron Bride of Abydos, 1. 12. *(2) An external emblem or mark. "Those offices and dignities were but the facings or fringes of his greatne ."- Wotton . II. Bot .: A row of long, filiform proce es, thicker than hairs. fringe-loom, s. A kind of loom in which the weft-thread is carried and detained beyond the limit of the warp, which has thus a series of loops beyond IMG:content-0163.png:[blocks in formation] verb.) C. As subst.: The act of furnishing with a fringe; fringing-reef, s. Geol., .: The name given by Mr. Darwin to one of three leading types of coral reefs. [ATOLL, BARRIER-REEF.] A fringing-reef differs from a barrier reef in having a comparatively small depth of water on the outer side, and a narrower and shallower lagoon between the reef and the shore. Fringing reefs are produced either when the shores are stationary or when they are now rising. (Darwin: On Coral Reefs.) fring-ỹ, a. [Eng.fring(e); -y.) Having fringes or borders; fringed. "Through fringy woodland, or smooth shaven lawn." Shenstone, Elegy xxiv. *fripier, s . [O. Fr.) A fripperer (q. v.). *frip-per, *frip-per-er, s. [Old Fr. fripier , from_fripper =to rub up and down, to wear into rags.] A dealer in frippery or old clothes.