The Thirty-Nine Steps (31 page)

fidges
VERB
fidges means fidgets, which is to keep moving your hands slightly because you are
nervous or excited
Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

finger-post
NOUN
a finger-post is a sign-post showing the direction to different places
“The gallows,” continued Fagin, “the gallows, my dear, is an ugly finger-post, which
points out a very short and sharp turning that has stopped many a bold fellow’s career
on the broad highway.”
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

fire-irons
NOUN
fire-irons are tools kept by the side of the fire to either cook with or look after
the fire
the fire-irons came first
(
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll)

fire-plug
NOUN
a fire-plug is another word for a fire hydrant
The pony looked with great attention into a fire-plug, which was near him, and appeared
to be quite absorbed in contemplating it
(
The Old Curiosity Shop
by Charles Dickens)

flank
NOUN
flank is the side of an animal
And all her silken flanks with garlands dressed
(
Ode on a Grecian Urn
by John Keats)

flip
NOUN
a flip is a drink made from warmed ale,sugar, spice and beaten egg
The events of the day, in combination with the twins, if not with the flip, had made
Mrs. Micawber hysterical, and she shed tears as she replied
(
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens)

flit
VERB
flit means to move quickly
and if he had meant to flit to Thrushcross Grange
(
Wuthering Heights
by Emily Brontë)

floorcloth
NOUN
a floorcloth was a hard-wearing piece of canvas used instead of carpet
This avenging phantom was ordered to be on duty at eight on Tuesday morning in the
hall
(
it was two feet square, as charged for floorcloth)
(
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens)

fly-driver
NOUN
a fly-driver is a carriage drawn by a single horse
The fly-drivers, among whom I inquired next, were equally jocose and equally disrespectful
(
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens)

fob
NOUN
a small pocket in which a watch is kept
“Certain,” replied the man, drawing a gold watch from his fob
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

folly
NOUN
folly means foolishness or stupidity
the folly of beginning a work
(
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe)

fond
ADJ
fond means foolish
Fond worldling
(
Doctor Faustus 5.2
by Christopher Marlowe)