Part 58

Fast"ish (?), a. Rather fast; also, somewhat dissipated. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Fast"ly, adv. Firmly; surely.

Fast"ness, n. [AS. fÊstnes, fr. fÊst fast. See Fast, a.] 1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness; security; faithfulness.

All . . . places of fastness laid open.

Sir J. Davies.

2. A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure retreat; a castle; as, the enemy retired to their fastnesses in the mountains.

3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] Ascham.

4. The state of being fast or swift.

Fas"tu*ous (?), a. [L. fastuosus, from fastus haughtiness, pride: cf. F. fastueux.] Proud; haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Barrow. -- Fas"tu*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Fat (?), n. [See Vat, n.] 1. A large tub, cistern, or vessel; a vat. [Obs.]

The fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Joel ii. 24.

2. A measure of quantity, differing for different commodities. [Obs.] Hebert.

Fat, a. [Compar. Fatter (?); superl. Fattest (?).] [AS. ftt; akin to D. vet, G. fett, feist, Icel. feitr, Sw. fet, Dan. fed, and perh. to Gr. pi^dax spring, fountain, pidy`ein to gush forth, pi`wn fat, Skr. pi to swell.] 1. Abounding with fat; as: (a) Fleshy; characterized by fatness; plump; corpulent; not lean; as, a fat man; a fat ox. (b) Oily; greasy; unctuous; rich; -- said of food.

2. Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.

Making our western wits fat and mean.

Emerson.

Make the heart of this people fat.

Is. vi. 10.

3. Fertile; productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture.

4. Rich; producing a large income; desirable; as, a fat benefice; a fat office; a fat job.

Now parson of Troston, a fat living in Suffolk.

Carlyle.

5. Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate. [Obs.]

Persons grown fat and wealthy by long impostures.

Swift.

6. (Typog.) Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; -- said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.; as, a fat take; a fat page.

Fat lute, a mixture of pipe clay and oil for filling joints.