Part 4326

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The application of fire, or of a cautery.</def>

<i>Dunglison.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The process of partly vitrifying pottery by exposing it to intense heat in a kiln.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Fuel; firewood or coal.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Mortimer.</i>

<cs><col>Firing iron</col>, <cd>an instrument used in cauterizing.</cd></cs>

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<h1>Firk</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firk</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OE. <ets>ferken</ets> to proceed, hasten, AS. <ets>fercian</ets> to bring, assist; perh. akin to <ets>faran</ets> to go, E. <ets>fare</ets>.]</ety> <def>To beat; to strike; to chastise.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>I'll fer him, and <b>firk</b> him, and ferret him. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Firk</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firk</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To fly out; to turn out; to go off.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>A wench is a rare bait, with which a man

<blockquote>No sooner's taken but he straight <b>firks</b> mad.B.Jonson.

<h1>Firk</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firk</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A freak; trick; quirk.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Ford.</i>

<h1>Firkin</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Fir"kin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[From AS. <ets>fe\'a2wer</ets> four (or an allied word, perh. Dutch or Danish) + <ets>-kin</ets>. See <er>Four</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons.</def> <mark>[Eng.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc.</def> <mark>[U.S.]</mark>

<h1>Firlot</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Fir"lot</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Scot., the fourth part of a boll of grain, from a word equiv. to E. <ets>four + lot</ets> part, portion. See <er>Firkin</er>.]</ety> <def>A dry measure formerly used in Scotland; the fourth part of a boll of grain or meal. The Linlithgow wheat firlot was to the imperial bushel as 998 to 1000; the barley firlot as 1456 to 1000.</def>

<i>Brande & C.</i>

<h1>Firm</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firm</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Compar.</tt> <er>Firmer</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Firmest</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>ferme</ets>, F. <ets>ferme</ets>, fr.L. <ets>firmus</ets>; cf. Skr. <ets>dharman</ets> support, law, order, <ets>dh<?/</ets> to hold fast, carry. Cf. <er>Farm</er>, <er>Throne</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard; solid; -- applied to the matter of bodies; <as>as, <ex>firm</ex> flesh; <ex>firm</ex> muscles, <ex>firm</ex> wood.</as></def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong; <as>as, a <ex>firm</ex> believer; a <ex>firm</ex> friend; a <ex>firm</ex> adherent.</as></def>

<blockquote>Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slow But <b>firm</b> battalion. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>By one man's <b>firm</b> obediency fully tried. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>