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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section F, G and H · Project Gutenberg — chapter 130 of 973 · ~456 words · public domain

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Shak.

The fiery spirit of his forefathers.

W. Irwing.

3. Passionate; easily provoked; irritable.

You know the fiery quality of the duke.

Shak.

4. Unrestrained; fierce; mettlesome; spirited.

One curbed the fiery steed.

Dryden.

5. heated by fire, or as if by fire; burning hot; parched; feverish. Pope.

The sword which is made fiery.

Hooker.

Fiery cross, a cross constructed of two firebrands, and pitched upon the point of a spear; formerly in Scotland borne by a runner as a signal for the clan to take up arms. Sir W. Scott.

Fife (?), n. [F. fifre, OHG. pffa, LL. pipa pipe, pipare to play on the pipe, fr. L. pipire, pipare, to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See Pipe.] (Mus.) A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.

Fife major (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment. -- Fife rail. (Naut.) (a) A rail about the mast, at the deck, to hold belaying pins, etc. (b) A railing around the break of a poop deck.

Fife, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fifed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. fifing.] To play on a fife.

Fif"er (?), n. One who plays on a fife.

Fif"teen` (?), a. [OE. fiftene, AS. fftne, fftne. See Five, and Ten, and cf. Fifty.] Five and ten; one more than fourteen.

Fif"teen`, n. 1. The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing fifteen units, as 15, or xv.

Fif"teenth` (?), a. [OE. fiftenthe; cf. fiftethe, AS. fftea. See Fifteen.] 1. Next in order after the fourteenth; -- the ordinal of fifteen.

2. Consisting of one of fifteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.

Fif"teenth`, n. 1. One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit divided by fifteen.

2. A species of tax upon personal property formerly laid on towns, boroughs, etc., in England, being one fifteenth part of what the personal property in each town, etc., had been valued at. Burrill.

3. (Mus.) (a) A stop in an organ tuned two octaves above the diaposon. (b) An interval consisting of two octaves.

Fifth (?), a. [OE. fifte, fifthe, AS. ffta. See Five.] 1. Next in order after the fourth; -- the ordinal of five.

2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing.

Fifth monarchy men (Hist.), a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years. -- Fifth wheel, a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of a carriage and beneath the body, forming an extended support to prevent careening.

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