Part 330

Franc (?), n. [F., fr. franc a Franc. See Frank, a.] A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. It is equivalent to about nineteen cents, or ten pence, and is divided into 100 centimes.

Fran"chise (? or ?; 277), n. [F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a.] 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote.

Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.

W. H. Seward.

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.

Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals.

London Encyc.

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. "Franchise in woman." [Obs.] Chaucer.

Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.

Fran"chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franchised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising.] [Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross.] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak.

Fran"chise*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. franchissement.] Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser.

Fran"cic (?), a. [See Frank, a.] Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish.

Fran*cis"can (?), a. [LL. Franciscus Francis: cf. F. franciscain.] (R. C. Ch.) Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans.

Franciscan Brothers, pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis. -- Franciscan Nuns, nuns who follow the rule of St. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses. -- Franciscan Tertiaries, the Third Order of St. Francis.

Fran*cis"can, n. (R.C.Ch.) A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit.

Fran"co*lin (?), n. [F.; cf. It. francolino, Sp. francolin.] (Zoˆl.) A spurred partidge of the genus Francolinus and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species (F. vulgaris) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia.

Fran"co*lite (?), n. (Min.) A variety of apatite from Wheal Franco in Devonshire.

Fran"gent (?), a. [L. frangens, p. pr. of frangere. See Fraction.] Causing fracture; breaking. [R.] H. Walpole.

Fran`gi*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. frangibilitÈ.] The state or quality of being frangible. Fox.

Fran"gi*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. frangible.] Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.

||Fran"gi*pane (?), n. [F. frangipane; supposed to be called so from ||the inventor, the Marquis Frangipani, major general under Louis XIV.] ||1. A perfume of jasmine; frangipani.

2. A species of pastry, containing cream and almonds.

{ Fran`gi*pan"i (?), Fran`gi*pan"ni (?) }, n. [Another spelling of frangipane.] A perfume derived from, or imitating the odor of, the flower of the red jasmine, a West Indian tree of the genus Plumeria.

{ Fran*gu"lic (?), Fran`gu*lin"ic (?) }, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or drived from, frangulin, or a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn.

Frangulinic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance, resembling alizarin, and obtained by the decomposition of frangulin.

Fran"gu*lin (?), n. (Chem.) A yellow crystalline dyestuff, regarded as a glucoside, extracted from a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn; -- called also rhamnoxanthin.

Fran"ion (?), n. [Perh. from F. fainÈant an idler.] A paramour; a loose woman; also, a gay, idle fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.