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Fire-new

Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new.

fire-on-the-mountain

poinsettia (Euphoria cyathophora) of the U. S. and eastern Mexico; often confused with Euphoria heterophylla.

fire-retardant

able to reduce combustibility or slow the spread of fire; -- of substances that are added to combustible materials to make them less combustible.

fire-sale price

a price much lower than normal market price; as, the Reagan administration sold off valuable mineral and timber resources at fire-sale prices.

Fire-set

A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and poker.

fire-tree

a terrestrial evergreen shrub or small tree (Nuytsia floribunda) of West Australia having brilliant yellow-orange flowers; parasitic on roots of grasses.

Firearm

A gun, pistol, or any weapon from which a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

Fireback

One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus, having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia and the East Indies.

Fireball

A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also, to set fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen.

Fireboard

A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.

firebrat

an insect (Thermobia domestica) which is a type of bristletail that lives in warm moist areas e.g. around furnaces.

firebreak

a narrow field that has been cleared to check the spread of a prairie fire or forest fire.

firebrick

a brick made of fire clay, used for lining e.g. furnaces and chimneys.

firebug

a criminal who illegaly sets fire to property; an arsonist.

firebush

An evergreen South American shrub *Streptosolen jamesonii) having showy trumpet-shaped orange flowers; grown as an ornamental or houseplant.

firecracker

A small explosive device consisting of a paper or cardboard cylinder having only sufficient explosive mixture to make a loud bang, ignited by a short fuse, and used mostly as an entertainment or in celebrations. Same as Cracker., n., 3.

Firecrest

A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a bright red crest; -- called also fire-crested wren.

firedamp

a mixture of gases (mostly methane) that forms in coal mines and becomes explosive when mixed with air. It is a source of serious hazard in coal mining operations.

Firedog

A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.

Firefish

A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorp/nid/, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.

Fireflaire

A European sting ray of the genus Trygon (T. pastinaca); -- called also fireflare and fiery flaw.

Fireflame

The European band fish (Cepola rubescens).

Firefly

Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family Lampyrid/.

firehouse

a building housing firemen and the apparatus they use to extinguish fires.

firelight

the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace); as, lovers sitting together in the firelight.

firelighter

(a piece of) a substance that burns easily and can be used to start a coal or coke fire.

Firelock

An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun having such a lock.

Fireman

A man whose business is to extinguish fires in towns; a member of a fire company.

Fireplace

The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; -- usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.

fireplug

an upright hydrant that can supply large volumes of water to use in fighting a fire. They are commonly placed at intervals at the street edge of a sidewalk for convenience in suppressing fires in towns.

firepower

The relative capacity for delivering weapons fire on a target; as, the battleship has more firepower than a cruiser.

Fireproofing

The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also, the materials used in the process.

Firer

One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary.

Fireside

A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.

Firestone

Iron pyrites, formerly used for striking fire; also, a flint.

Firetail

The European redstart; -- called also fireflirt.

Firewarden

An officer who has authority to direct in the extinguishing of fires, or to order what precautions shall be taken against fires; -- called also fireward.

Fireweed

An American plant (Erechthites hiercifolia), very troublesome in spots where brushwood has been burned. The great willow-herb (Epilobium spicatum).

firewheel

An annual of the central U. S. (Gaillardia pulchella) having showy long-stalked yellow flower heads marked with scarlet or purple in the center.

firework

A device for producing a striking display of light, or a figure or figures in plain or colored fire, by the combustion of materials that burn in some peculiar manner, as gunpowder, sulphur, metallic filings, and various salts; also called a pyrotechnic device. The most common feature of fireworks is a paper or pasteboard tube filled with the combustible material. A number of these tubes or cases are often combined so as to make, when kindled, a great variety of figures in fire, often variously colored. The skyrocket is a common form of firework. The art of designing fireworks for purposes of entertainment is called pyrotechnics. The name firework is also given to various combustible preparations used in war.

Fireworm

The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; -- called also cranberry worm.

Firing

The act of discharging firearms.

Firk

A freak; trick; quirk.

Firkin

A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons.

Firlot

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.

Firm

To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish.

Firmament

Fixed foundation; established basis.

Firmamental

Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper regions.

Firman

In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; -- generally given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance.

Firmer-chisel

A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to enter the handle instead of a socket for receiving it.

Firmity

Strength; firmness; stability.

Firmness

The state or quality of being firm.

Firms

The principal rafters of a roof, especially a pair of rafters taken together.

Firry

Made of fir; abounding in firs.

First

The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a pre/minence in the combined effect.

first aid

Medical care provided immediately after an injury or sudden illness for the purpose of minimizing injurious effects, before more complete medical care becomes available.

first-class

Of the best class; of the highest rank; in the first division; of the best quality; first-rate; as, a first-class telescope.

first-come-first-served

distributed in order to those who request it in person; not subject to reservation for later delivery. Contrasted with reservable.

First-hand

Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence, without the intervention of an agent; -- of information; as, a firsthand report; firsthand information; firsthand knowledge.

First-order

decaying at an exponential rate; -- a mathematical concept applied to various types of decay, such as radioactivity and chemical reactions.

First-rate

A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.

first-rate

of the highest quality; as, a first-rate reporter.

first-string

First to play in a game; not reserved as a substitute; -- of members of a team. Also used in non-sports contexts to mean first-rate.

first-year

Being in the first year of an experience especially in a U. S. high school or college; -- of a person.

firstborn

The first child born to a parent; as, his firstborn was showered with gifts from relatives.

Firstborn

First brought forth; first in the order of birth; eldest; hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted; as, the firstborn child.

Firstly

In the first place; before anything else; -- sometimes improperly used for first.

Firth

An arm of the sea; a frith.

Fisc

A public or state treasury.

Fiscal

The income of a prince or a state; revenue; exchequer.

Fisetic

Pertaining to fustet or fisetin.

Fisetin

A yellow crystalline substance extracted from fustet, and regarded as its essential coloring principle; -- called also fisetic acid.

Fish

To catch; to draw out or up; as, to fish up an anchor.

Fish-bellied

Bellying or swelling out on the under side; as, a fish-bellied rail.

Fish-tackle

A tackle or purchase used to raise the flukes of the anchor up to the gunwale. The block used is called the fish-block.

Fish-tail

Like the of a fish; acting, or producing something, like the tail of a fish.

Fisherman

One whose occupation is to catch fish.

Fishery

The business or practice of catching fish; fishing.

fishfly

a fly similar to but smaller than the dobsonfly.

Fishgig

A spear with barbed prongs used for harpooning fish.

Fishhawk

The osprey (Pandion halia/tus), found both in Europe and America; -- so called because it plunges into the water and seizes fishes in its talons. Called also fishing eagle, and bald buzzard.

Fishiness

The state or quality of being fishy or fishlike.

Fishing

Pertaining to fishing; used in fishery; engaged in fishing; as, fishing boat; fishing tackle; fishing village.

fishing expedition

An investigation searching for evidence of wrongdoing, with no credible evidence of such wrongdoing available at the outset of the investigation, and often without specifying in advance the wrongdoing to be proven.

Fishlike

Like fish; suggestive of fish; having some of the qualities of fish.

Fishskin

The skin of a fish (dog fish, shark, etc.)

fishtail

to have the rear end skid from side to side, out of control: -- said of automobiles or other vehicles.

Fishwoman

A woman who retails fish; a female fishmonger.

Fishy

Consisting of fish; fishlike; having the qualities or taste of fish; abounding in fish.

Fisk

To run about; to frisk; to whisk.

Fissigemmation

A process of reproduction intermediate between fission and gemmation.

Fissile

Capable of being split, cleft, or divided in the direction of the grain, like wood, or along natural planes of cleavage, like crystals.

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