Part 126

Fid"dle*dee*dee` (?), interj. An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense! [Colloq.]

Fid"dle-fad`dle (?), n. A trifle; trifling talk; nonsense. [Colloq.] Spectator.

Fid"dle-fad`dle, v. i. To talk nonsense. [Colloq.] Ford.

Fid"dler (?), n. [AS. fielere.] 1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin.

2. (Zoˆl.) A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and often holds it in a position similar to that in which a musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; -- called also calling crab, soldier crab, and fighting crab.

3. (Zoˆl.) The common European sandpiper (Tringoides hypoleucus); -- so called because it continually oscillates its body.

Fiddler crab. (Zoˆl.) See Fiddler, n., 2.

Fid"dle-shaped` (?), a. (Bot.) Inversely ovate, with a deep hollow on each side. Gray.

Fid"dle*stick` (?), n. The bow, strung with horsehair, used in playing the fiddle; a fiddle bow.

Fid"dle*string` (?), n. One of the catgut strings of a fiddle.

Fid"dle*wood` (?), n. [Corrupted fr. F. bois-fidËle, lit., faithful wood; -- so called from its durability.] The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus Citharexylum.

Fi`de*jus"sion (?), n. [L. fidejussio, from fidejubere to be surety or bail; fides faith + jubere to order: cf. F. fidÈjussion.] (Civil Law) The act or state of being bound as surety for another; suretyship.

Fi`de*jus"sor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. fidÈjusseur.] (Civil Law) A surety; one bound for another, conjointly with him; a guarantor. Blackstone.

Fi*del"i*ty (?), n. [L. fidelitas: cf. F. fidÈlitÈ. See Fealty.] Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations. Especially: (a) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty.

Whose courageous fidelity was proof to all danger.

Macaulay.

The best security for the fidelity of men is to make interest coincide with duty.

A. Hamilton.

(b) Adherence to the marriage contract. (c) Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty.

The principal thing required in a witness is fidelity.

Hooker.

Syn. -- Faithfulness; honesty; integrity; faith; loyalty; fealty.

||Fi"des (?), n. [L., faith.] (Roman Muth.) Faith personified as a ||goddess; the goddess of faith.

Fidge (fj), n. & v. i. See Fidget. [R.] Swift.

Fidg"et (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fidgeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fodgeting.] [From Fidge; cf. OE. fiken to fidget, to flatter, Icel. fika to hasten, Sw. fika to hunt after, AS. befician to deceive. Cf. Fickle.] To move uneasily one way and the other; to move irregularly, or by fits and starts. Moore.

Fidg"et, n. 1. Uneasiness; restlessness. Cowper.

2. pl. A general nervous restlessness, manifested by incessant changes of position; dysphoria. Dunglison.

Fidg"et*i*ness (?), n. Quality of being fidgety.