▪ I. fillip, n.
(ˈfɪlɪp)
Forms: α. 6 fillippe, -op(pe, fyl(l)ippe, -yp(pe, -op, 6–9 filip, (6 -op), (8 fillup), 6– fillip. β. 6–7 phillip, (6 phil(l)ippe, phylyp, 7 philip, -lop).
[app. onomatopœic; cf. flip, flirt, used in similar sense. The n. and vb. appear nearly contemporaneously in 16th c.; it is uncertain which is the source of the other.]
1. A movement made by bending the last joint of a finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it (so as to propel some small object, or merely as a gesture); a smart stroke or tap given by this means.
| 1530 Palsgr. 220/1 Fyllippe with ones fyngar, chicquenode. 1589 Pasquil's Ret. 20 Their Bookes be Glasse, giue them but a filip, they run to powder. 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 44 Gestures..or actions, as..a crosse made on the forehead for a C, a phillip for D. 1619 Rich Irish Hubbub (1623) 24 Hee..gives the cup a phillip to make it cry Twango. 1721–1800 Bailey, Fillip, a throw of a Piece of Money with one's Finger or Nail. 1791 Boswell Johnson 10 Apr. an. 1772, The Prince..by a fillip, made some of it [wine] fly in Oglethorpe's face. 1862 Merivale Rom. Emp. (1865) IV. xxxvi. 234 He could..draw blood from a slave's head with a fillip. |
b. Something of small importance; a trifle. Also, a short space of time, a moment.
| 1621 Molle Camerar. Liv. Libr. v. xvii. 386 The rest is not worth a fillip with the finger. 1633 D. R[ogers] Treat. Sacraments i. 171 If the Lord then crosse thee so, not in some petty filip of a finger, but in a tedious sort. 1821 Byron Sardan. i. ii, Eat, drink, and love; the rest's not worth a fillip. 1880 W. E. Griffis Jap. Fairy World xvii. (1887) 150 The tortoise..in a fillip of the finger was down in the gardens of Riu Gu. |
2. In a wider sense: A smart blow (with the fist, etc.). Now rare.
| 1543 Becon Invect. agst. Swearing 28 a, Suche a fylyppe, as shal fylyppe them downe into the botome of hell fyre. 1575 J. Still Gamm. Gurton v. ii. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 238 There was a knave not far, Who caught one good filip on the brow with a door-bar. 1618 Fletcher Chances iii. iv, One, if foule play Should fall upon us..Will not flie back for phillips. 1772 tr. Galland's Arab. Nts. IV. 151 One give poor Bakbarah a filip on the nose with all her strength. |
| fig. 1788 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 250 The Marquis de la Fayette, with several others, have lately received a fillip for having assembled to sign a memorial to the King. |
3. Something that serves to rouse, excite, or animate; a stimulus.
| a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Give Nature a Fillip, to Debauch a little now and then with Women, or Wine. 1740 Cheyne Regimen 80, I willingly allow, that fermented..Liquors, are excellent Remedies, temporary Filips, Whips or Spurs. 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. 238 This bon mot gave a fillip to my spirits. 1837 Whittock Bk. Trades (1842) 273 A remission of two-thirds the duty on flint-glass..has given the trade a fillip. 1847 J. Wilson Chr. North (1857) I. 144 Without the filip of a little scandal. |
▪ II. fillip, v.
(ˈfɪlɪp)
[See the n.]
1. trans. To put into motion by a fillip; to toss (a coin) with a fillip. Also with away, down, forth, off.
| 1543 [see fillip n. 2.] 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xiii. xxx. 338 When he hath filipped the monie..he must saie; What is it? 1622 Donne Serm. xvi. 157 Not be able to nip or fillip away one of his own wormes. a 1680 Charnock Attrib. God (1834) II. 70 That can..fillip nature with his finger into that nothing whence he drew it. 1783 F. Burney Diary 9 Dec., I was forced to begin filliping off the crumbs..from my muff. 1831 A. Fonblanque Eng. under 7 Administ. (1837) II. 155 Had our aforesaid merchant filliped a nut sharply against his bullying giant. 1871 Tylor Prim. Cult. I. 61 The use of an elastic switch to fillip small missiles with. |
| transf. and fig. 1535 Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 17 These playn testimonyes..wolde take no place with Tindal for..he..agenst me fylipt them forth betwene his fynger and his thombe. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Gagg iii. 42, I like not that the ancient Fathers should so be philipped off, and sent away. 1689 Answ. Lords' & Commoners' Sp. 21 Those Tests [etc.]..which..were so easily filliped down by his Vigorous Successor. |
b. To stimulate, urge. Also with forward.
| 1551 T. Wilson Logike C viij a, They will..with good indeuoure, filip nature forward. 1819 Shelley Cyclops 145 Pour: that the draught may fillip my remembrance. |
2. To strike with a fillip; to tap smartly with the nail-joint of the finger. Also with out.
| 1580 Baret Alv. F 505 To fillip one, talitrum impingere, incutere, infringere alicui. 1586 J. Hooker Girald. Irel. in Holinshed II. 86/1 There is not a meane subject that dare extend his hand to fillip a peere of the realme. 1626 Bacon Sylva §725 If you fillip a Lute-string, it sheweth double, or Treble. 1681 Depos. Cast. York (Surtees) 249 My Lorde..did arise from his seate and phillipped him over the nose. 1786 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1834) 49 Others poised themselves over a fire, and without mercy filliped their noses. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xxviii. 288 Like earthen vessels; that properly filliped.. should perforce reveal a..fracture. 1862 H. W. Fuller Dis. Lungs 35 A good example of it may be obtained by filiping the inflated cheeks. |
| transf. and fig. 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. iii. 59 Then let the Pibbles on the hungry beach Fillop the starres. 1667 Denham Direct. Paint. ii. ii. 66 How the hard Pellets fell away as dead, By our inchanted Timber fillipped. 1857 Reade Course of True Love ii. (1868) 42 Patrick..could not bear to be filliped. 1876 T. Hardy Ethelberta I. 148 To escape the risk of having his eyes filliped out by the twigs that impeded his progress. |
3. gen. To strike smartly.
| 1577 Holinshed Chron. (1808) IV. 220 There was one [stone] that lent him a blow on the shoulder, an other of them philipped him on the fingers. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. ii. 255 If I do, fillop me with a three-man-Beetle. |
4. intr. To make a fillip with the fingers. Also, to fillip with (one's) fingers, and to fillip it.
| 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. (1586) ii. 110 b, If you do but fillip with your finger upon the other end. 1599 Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. in Hazl. Dodsley VII. 300 When he scarce can trim His gouty fingers, thus he'll phillip it. 1626 Bacon Sylva §183 If you..fillip upon the Brim, or outside. 1670 R. Lassels Voy. Italy II. 407 Of such a rare timber, that one filipping upon one end of them, you heare it easily at the other end. 1842 Tennyson Godiva 25 He laugh'd..Then fillip'd at the diamond in her ear. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) II. i. iii. 40 Just see me fillip with my fingers. |
b. quasi-trans. To give a fillip with (the fingers).
| 1712 Hearne Collect. III. 371 Then filip your Finger and Thomb. |
Hence ˈfilliped ppl. a., ˈfilliping vbl. n.
| 1611 Cotgr., Chiquenaudé, fillipped. 1622 Massinger Virg. Mart. v. i, Tush, all these tortures are but fillipings, Fleabitings. a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xx. 169 Interlarded with a double row of bobs and finger filipings. 1856 Dobell Eng. in Time of War, Shower in War Time, The drip Did whip the filliped pool. |