Father Christmas : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

   F. D. Roosevelt
         n 1: 32nd President of the United States; elected four times;
               instituted New Deal to counter the Great Depression and led
               country during World War II (1882-1945) [syn: {Roosevelt},
               {Franklin Roosevelt}, {Franklin Delano Roosevelt}, {F. D.
               Roosevelt}, {President Roosevelt}, {President Franklin
               Roosevelt}, {FDR}]

English Dictionary: Father Christmas	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Fatah-RC n a Palestinian international terrorist organization that split from the PLO in 1974; has conducted terrorist attacks in 20 countries; "in the 1980s the Fatah-RC was considered the most dangerous and murderous Palestinian terror group" Synonym(s): Fatah Revolutionary Council, Fatah-RC, Abu Nidal Organization, ANO, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Father Christmas n the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at Christmas Synonym(s): Santa Claus, Santa, Kriss Kringle, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, St. Nick
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
father surrogate n a man who takes over all the functions of the real father Synonym(s): father figure, father surrogate
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Father's Day n US: third Sunday in June
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Father-God n God when considered as the first person in the Trinity; "hear our prayers, Heavenly Father" Synonym(s): Father, Father-God, Fatherhood
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
feather geranium n Eurasian aromatic oak-leaved goosefoot with many yellow- green flowers; naturalized North America Synonym(s): Jerusalem oak, feather geranium, Mexican tea, Chenopodium botrys, Atriplex mexicana
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
feather star n free-swimming stalkless crinoid with ten feathery arms; found on muddy sea bottoms Synonym(s): feather star, comatulid
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
featherweight n an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 126 pounds weighs 126-139 pounds a professional boxer who weighs between 123 and 126 pounds
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Federico Fellini n Italian filmmaker (1920-1993) [syn: Fellini, {Federico Fellini}]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
foot race n a race run on foot; "she broke the record for the half-mile run" Synonym(s): footrace, foot race, run
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
footrace n a race run on foot; "she broke the record for the half-mile run" Synonym(s): footrace, foot race, run
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
footrest n a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person Synonym(s): footstool, footrest, ottoman, tuffet
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
footwork n the manner of using the feet skillful maneuvering or dealing; "she needs some fancy footwork to cover all those lies"
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fothergilla n any of several deciduous low-growing shrubs of the genus Fothergilla having showy brushlike spikes of white flowers in spring and fiery red and orange autumn color; grows from Alabama to the Allegheny Mountains Synonym(s): fothergilla, witch alder small genus of deciduous shrubs of the southeastern United States Synonym(s): genus Fothergilla, Fothergilla
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futures contract n an agreement to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity or financial instrument at a particular price on a stipulated future date; the contract can be sold before the settlement date
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futures exchange n a commodity exchange where futures contracts are traded Synonym(s): futures exchange, futures market, forward market
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futures market n a commodity exchange where futures contracts are traded Synonym(s): futures exchange, futures market, forward market
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futurism n an artistic movement in Italy around 1910 that tried to express the energy and values of the machine age the position that the meaning of life should be sought in the future
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futurist adj of or relating to futurism; "futurist art" [syn: futuristic, futurist] n a theologian who believes that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) will be fulfilled in the future someone who predicts the future Synonym(s): fantast, futurist
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futuristic adj of or relating to futurism; "futurist art" [syn: futuristic, futurist]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
futuristics n the study or prediction of future developments on the basis of existing conditions Synonym(s): futurology, futuristics
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Father \Fa"ther\, n. [OE. fader, AS. f[91]der; akin to OS. fadar, D. vader, OHG. fatar, G. vater, Icel. Fa[?]ir Sw. & Dan. fader, OIr. athir, L. pater, Gr. [?][?][?][?][?], Skr. pitr, perh. fr. Skr. p[be] protect. [?][?][?],[?][?][?]. Cf. {Papa}, {Paternal}, {Patriot}, {Potential}, {Pablum}.] 1. One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent. A wise son maketh a glad father. --Prov. x. 1. 2. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers, ancestors. David slept with his fathers. --1 Kings ii. 10. Abraham, who is the father of us all. --Rom. iv. 16. 3. One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel, or protection. I was a father to the poor. --Job xxix. 16. He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house. --Gen. xiv. 8. 4. A respectful mode of address to an old man. And Joash the king og Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and said, O my father, my father! --2 Kings xiii. 14. 5. A senator of ancient Rome. 6. A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor (called also {father confessor}), or a priest; also, the eldest member of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc. Bless you, good father friar ! --Shak. 7. One of the chief esslesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers. 8. One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher. The father of all such as handle the harp and organ. --Gen. iv. 21. Might be the father, Harry, to that thought. --Shak. The father of good news. --Shak. 9. The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity. Our Father, which art in heaven. --Matt. vi. 9. Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye. --Milton. {Adoptive father}, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as his own. {Apostolic father}, {Conscript fathers, etc.} See under {Apostolic}, {Conscript}, etc. {Father in God}, a title given to bishops. {Father of lies}, the Devil. {Father of the bar}, the oldest practitioner at the bar. {Fathers of the city}, the aldermen. {Father of the Faithful}. (a) Abraham. --Rom. iv. --Gal. iii. 6-9. (b) Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors. {Father of the house}, the member of a legislative body who has had the longest continuous service. {Most Reverend Father in God}, a title given to archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York. {Natural father}, the father of an illegitimate child. {Putative father}, one who is presumed to be the father of an illegitimate child; the supposed father. {Spiritual father}. (a) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of penance. {The Holy Father} (R. C. Ch.), the pope.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Father \Fa"ther\, n. [OE. fader, AS. f[91]der; akin to OS. fadar, D. vader, OHG. fatar, G. vater, Icel. Fa[?]ir Sw. & Dan. fader, OIr. athir, L. pater, Gr. [?][?][?][?][?], Skr. pitr, perh. fr. Skr. p[be] protect. [?][?][?],[?][?][?]. Cf. {Papa}, {Paternal}, {Patriot}, {Potential}, {Pablum}.] 1. One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a generator; a male parent. A wise son maketh a glad father. --Prov. x. 1. 2. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers, ancestors. David slept with his fathers. --1 Kings ii. 10. Abraham, who is the father of us all. --Rom. iv. 16. 3. One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance, affetionate care, counsel, or protection. I was a father to the poor. --Job xxix. 16. He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house. --Gen. xiv. 8. 4. A respectful mode of address to an old man. And Joash the king og Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and said, O my father, my father! --2 Kings xiii. 14. 5. A senator of ancient Rome. 6. A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor (called also {father confessor}), or a priest; also, the eldest member of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc. Bless you, good father friar ! --Shak. 7. One of the chief esslesiastical authorities of the first centuries after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers. 8. One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer, author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or occupation; a distinguished example or teacher. The father of all such as handle the harp and organ. --Gen. iv. 21. Might be the father, Harry, to that thought. --Shak. The father of good news. --Shak. 9. The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person in the Trinity. Our Father, which art in heaven. --Matt. vi. 9. Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye. --Milton. {Adoptive father}, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as his own. {Apostolic father}, {Conscript fathers, etc.} See under {Apostolic}, {Conscript}, etc. {Father in God}, a title given to bishops. {Father of lies}, the Devil. {Father of the bar}, the oldest practitioner at the bar. {Fathers of the city}, the aldermen. {Father of the Faithful}. (a) Abraham. --Rom. iv. --Gal. iii. 6-9. (b) Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors. {Father of the house}, the member of a legislative body who has had the longest continuous service. {Most Reverend Father in God}, a title given to archbishops and metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York. {Natural father}, the father of an illegitimate child. {Putative father}, one who is presumed to be the father of an illegitimate child; the supposed father. {Spiritual father}. (a) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who hears confession in the sacrament of penance. {The Holy Father} (R. C. Ch.), the pope.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Oratory \Or"atory\, n.; pl. {Oratories}. [OE. oratorie, fr. L. oratorium, fr. oratorius of praying, of an orator: cf. F. oratoire. See {Orator}, {Oral}, and cf. {Oratorio}.] A place of orisons, or prayer; especially, a chapel or small room set apart for private devotions. An oratory [temple] . . . in worship of Dian. --Chaucer. Do not omit thy prayers for want of a good oratory, or place to pray in. --Jer. Taylor. {Fathers of the Oratory} (R. C. Ch.), a society of priests founded by St. Philip Neri, living in community, and not bound by a special vow. The members are called also {oratorians}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fathership \Fa"ther*ship\, n. The state of being a father; fatherhood; paternity.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Father-in-law \Fa"ther-in-law`\, n.; pl. {Fathers-in-law}. The father of one's husband or wife; -- correlative to son-in-law and daughter-in-law. Note: A man who marries a woman having children already, is sometimes, though erroneously, called their father-in-law.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fautress \Fau"tress\, n. [L. fauutrix: cf. F. fautrice.] A patroness. [Obs.] --Chapman.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feather \Feath"er\, n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[?]der; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[94][?]r, Sw. fj[84]der, Dan. fj[91]der, Gr. [?] wing, feather, [?] to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. [root]76, 248. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down. Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender lamin[91] or barbs, which usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See {Down}, {Quill}, {Plumage}. 2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, [bd]Birds of a feather,[b8] that is, of the same species. [R.] I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. --Shak. 3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs. 4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse. 5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow. 6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline. 7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. --Knight. 8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water. Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster. {Feather alum} (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition of iron pyrites; -- called also {halotrichite}. --Ure. {Feather bed}, a bed filled with feathers. {Feather driver}, one who prepares feathers by beating. {Feather duster}, a dusting brush of feathers. {Feather flower}, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies' headdresses, and other ornamental purposes. {Feather grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa pennata}) which has a long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose the grain. {Feather maker}, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or artificial. {Feather ore} (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a variety of Jamesonite. {Feather shot}, [or] {Feathered shot} (Metal.), copper granulated by pouring into cold water. --Raymond. {Feather spray} (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel. {Feather star}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Comatula}. {Feather weight}. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted. (b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in racing. --Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in contradistinction to {light weight}, {middle weight}, and {heavy weight}. {A feather in the cap} an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction. [Colloq.] {To be in full feather}, to be in full dress or in one's best clothes. [Collog.] {To be in high feather}, to be in high spirits. [Collog.] {To cut a feather}. (a) (Naut.) To make the water foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous. [Colloq.] {To show the white feather}, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of the true game breed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feather \Feath"er\, n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[?]der; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[94][?]r, Sw. fj[84]der, Dan. fj[91]der, Gr. [?] wing, feather, [?] to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. [root]76, 248. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down. Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender lamin[91] or barbs, which usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See {Down}, {Quill}, {Plumage}. 2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, [bd]Birds of a feather,[b8] that is, of the same species. [R.] I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. --Shak. 3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs. 4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse. 5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow. 6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline. 7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. --Knight. 8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water. Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster. {Feather alum} (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition of iron pyrites; -- called also {halotrichite}. --Ure. {Feather bed}, a bed filled with feathers. {Feather driver}, one who prepares feathers by beating. {Feather duster}, a dusting brush of feathers. {Feather flower}, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies' headdresses, and other ornamental purposes. {Feather grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa pennata}) which has a long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose the grain. {Feather maker}, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or artificial. {Feather ore} (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a variety of Jamesonite. {Feather shot}, [or] {Feathered shot} (Metal.), copper granulated by pouring into cold water. --Raymond. {Feather spray} (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel. {Feather star}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Comatula}. {Feather weight}. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted. (b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in racing. --Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in contradistinction to {light weight}, {middle weight}, and {heavy weight}. {A feather in the cap} an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction. [Colloq.] {To be in full feather}, to be in full dress or in one's best clothes. [Collog.] {To be in high feather}, to be in high spirits. [Collog.] {To cut a feather}. (a) (Naut.) To make the water foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous. [Colloq.] {To show the white feather}, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of the true game breed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feather \Feath"er\, n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[?]der; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[94][?]r, Sw. fj[84]der, Dan. fj[91]der, Gr. [?] wing, feather, [?] to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. [root]76, 248. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down. Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender lamin[91] or barbs, which usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See {Down}, {Quill}, {Plumage}. 2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, [bd]Birds of a feather,[b8] that is, of the same species. [R.] I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. --Shak. 3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs. 4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse. 5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow. 6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline. 7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. --Knight. 8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water. Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster. {Feather alum} (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition of iron pyrites; -- called also {halotrichite}. --Ure. {Feather bed}, a bed filled with feathers. {Feather driver}, one who prepares feathers by beating. {Feather duster}, a dusting brush of feathers. {Feather flower}, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies' headdresses, and other ornamental purposes. {Feather grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa pennata}) which has a long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose the grain. {Feather maker}, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or artificial. {Feather ore} (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a variety of Jamesonite. {Feather shot}, [or] {Feathered shot} (Metal.), copper granulated by pouring into cold water. --Raymond. {Feather spray} (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel. {Feather star}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Comatula}. {Feather weight}. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted. (b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in racing. --Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in contradistinction to {light weight}, {middle weight}, and {heavy weight}. {A feather in the cap} an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction. [Colloq.] {To be in full feather}, to be in full dress or in one's best clothes. [Collog.] {To be in high feather}, to be in high spirits. [Collog.] {To cut a feather}. (a) (Naut.) To make the water foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous. [Colloq.] {To show the white feather}, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of the true game breed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feather \Feath"er\, n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[?]der; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[94][?]r, Sw. fj[84]der, Dan. fj[91]der, Gr. [?] wing, feather, [?] to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. [root]76, 248. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down. Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender lamin[91] or barbs, which usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See {Down}, {Quill}, {Plumage}. 2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, [bd]Birds of a feather,[b8] that is, of the same species. [R.] I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. --Shak. 3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs. 4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse. 5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow. 6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline. 7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. --Knight. 8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water. Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster. {Feather alum} (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition of iron pyrites; -- called also {halotrichite}. --Ure. {Feather bed}, a bed filled with feathers. {Feather driver}, one who prepares feathers by beating. {Feather duster}, a dusting brush of feathers. {Feather flower}, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies' headdresses, and other ornamental purposes. {Feather grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa pennata}) which has a long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose the grain. {Feather maker}, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or artificial. {Feather ore} (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a variety of Jamesonite. {Feather shot}, [or] {Feathered shot} (Metal.), copper granulated by pouring into cold water. --Raymond. {Feather spray} (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel. {Feather star}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Comatula}. {Feather weight}. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted. (b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in racing. --Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in contradistinction to {light weight}, {middle weight}, and {heavy weight}. {A feather in the cap} an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction. [Colloq.] {To be in full feather}, to be in full dress or in one's best clothes. [Collog.] {To be in high feather}, to be in high spirits. [Collog.] {To cut a feather}. (a) (Naut.) To make the water foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous. [Colloq.] {To show the white feather}, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of the true game breed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
d8Comatula \[d8]Comat"ula\ (?; 135), n. [NL., fr. L. comatulus having hair neatly curled, dim. fr. coma hair.] (Zo[94]l.) A crinoid of the genus {Antedon} and related genera. When young they are fixed by a stem. When adult they become detached and cling to seaweeds, etc., by their dorsal cirri; -- called also {feather stars}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Weight \Weight\, n. [OE. weght, wight, AS. gewiht; akin to D. gewigt, G. gewicht, Icel. v[91]tt, Sw. vigt, Dan. v[91]gt. See {Weigh}, v. t.] 1. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc. Note: Weight differs from gravity in being the effect of gravity, or the downward pressure of a body under the influence of gravity; hence, it constitutes a measure of the force of gravity, and being the resultant of all the forces exerted by gravity upon the different particles of the body, it is proportional to the quantity of matter in the body. 2. The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight of five hundred pounds. For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell, Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes. --Shak. 3. Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or business. [bd]The weight of this said time.[b8] --Shak. For the public all this weight he bears. --Milton. [He] who singly bore the world's sad weight. --Keble. 4. Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast weight. In such a point of weight, so near mine honor. --Shak. 5. A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight; apothecaries' weight. 6. A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a paper weight. A man leapeth better with weights in his hands. --Bacon. 7. A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as, an ounce weight. 8. (Mech.) The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it. [Obs.] {Atomic weight}. (Chem.) See under {Atomic}, and cf. {Element}. {Dead weight}, {Feather weight}, {Heavy weight}, {Light weight}, etc. See under {Dead}, {Feather}, etc. {Weight of observation} (Astron. & Physics), a number expressing the most probable relative value of each observation in determining the result of a series of observations of the same kind. Syn: Ponderousness; gravity; heaviness; pressure; burden; load; importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feather \Feath"er\, n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[?]der; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[94][?]r, Sw. fj[84]der, Dan. fj[91]der, Gr. [?] wing, feather, [?] to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. [root]76, 248. Cf. {Pen} a feather.] 1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down. Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting of a series of slender lamin[91] or barbs, which usually bear barbicels and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See {Down}, {Quill}, {Plumage}. 2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, [bd]Birds of a feather,[b8] that is, of the same species. [R.] I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me. --Shak. 3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs. 4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse. 5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow. 6. (Mach. & Carp.) A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline. 7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. --Knight. 8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water. Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-heeled, feather duster. {Feather alum} (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition of iron pyrites; -- called also {halotrichite}. --Ure. {Feather bed}, a bed filled with feathers. {Feather driver}, one who prepares feathers by beating. {Feather duster}, a dusting brush of feathers. {Feather flower}, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies' headdresses, and other ornamental purposes. {Feather grass} (Bot.), a kind of grass ({Stipa pennata}) which has a long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose the grain. {Feather maker}, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or artificial. {Feather ore} (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a variety of Jamesonite. {Feather shot}, [or] {Feathered shot} (Metal.), copper granulated by pouring into cold water. --Raymond. {Feather spray} (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel. {Feather star}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Comatula}. {Feather weight}. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted. (b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in racing. --Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in contradistinction to {light weight}, {middle weight}, and {heavy weight}. {A feather in the cap} an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction. [Colloq.] {To be in full feather}, to be in full dress or in one's best clothes. [Collog.] {To be in high feather}, to be in high spirits. [Collog.] {To cut a feather}. (a) (Naut.) To make the water foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous. [Colloq.] {To show the white feather}, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of the true game breed.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Featherstitch \Feath"er*stitch`\, n. A kind of embroidery stitch producing a branching zigzag line.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Feed \Feed\, n. 1. That which is eaten; esp., food for beasts; fodder; pasture; hay; grain, ground or whole; as, the best feed for sheep. 2. A grazing or pasture ground. --Shak. 3. An allowance of provender given to a horse, cow, etc.; a meal; as, a feed of corn or oats. 4. A meal, or the act of eating. [R.] For such pleasure till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found. --Milton. 5. The water supplied to steam boilers. 6. (Mach.) (a) The motion, or act, of carrying forward the stuff to be operated upon, as cloth to the needle in a sewing machine; or of producing progressive operation upon any material or object in a machine, as, in a turning lathe, by moving the cutting tool along or in the work. (b) The supply of material to a machine, as water to a steam boiler, coal to a furnace, or grain to a run of stones. (c) The mechanism by which the action of feeding is produced; a feed motion. {Feed bag}, a nose bag containing feed for a horse or mule. {Feed cloth}, an apron for leading cotton, wool, or other fiber, into a machine, as for carding, etc. {Feed door}, a door to a furnace, by which to supply coal. {Feed head}. (a) A cistern for feeding water by gravity to a steam boiler. (b) (Founding) An excess of metal above a mold, which serves to render the casting more compact by its pressure; -- also called a {riser}, {deadhead}, or simply {feed} or {head} --Knight. {Feed heater}. (a) (Steam Engine) A vessel in which the feed water for the boiler is heated, usually by exhaust steam. (b) A boiler or kettle in which is heated food for stock. {Feed motion}, [or] {Feed gear} (Mach.), the train of mechanism that gives motion to the part that directly produces the feed in a machine. {Feed pipe}, a pipe for supplying the boiler of a steam engine, etc., with water. {Feed pump}, a force pump for supplying water to a steam boiler, etc. {Feed regulator}, a device for graduating the operation of a feeder. --Knight. {Feed screw}, in lathes, a long screw employed to impart a regular motion to a tool rest or tool, or to the work. {Feed water}, water supplied to a steam boiler, etc. {Feed wheel} (Mach.), a kind of feeder. See {Feeder}, n., 8.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fetter \Fet"ter\, n. [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feter[?]s, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fj[94]turr, L. pedi[?]a, Gr. [?], and to E. foot. [root] 77. See {Foot}.] [Chiefly used in the plural, {fetters}.] 1. A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle. [They] bound him with fetters of brass. --Judg. xvi. 21. 2. Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint. Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound. --Dryden.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Foot \Foot\ (f[oocr]t), n.; pl. {Feet} (f[emac]t). [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. f[omac]t, pl. f[emac]t; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. f[omac]tr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. f[omac]tus, L. pes, Gr. poy`s, Skr. p[be]d, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot, feta to step, find one's way. [fb]77, 250. Cf. {Antipodes}, {Cap-a-pie}, {Expedient}, {Fet} to fetch, {Fetlock}, {Fetter}, {Pawn} a piece in chess, {Pedal}.] 1. (Anat.) The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See {Manus}, and {Pes}. 2. (Zo[94]l.) The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of {Buccinum}. 3. That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking. 4. The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain or column; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed. And now at foot Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet. --Milton. 5. Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular. Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason. --Berkeley. 6. Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular. [R.] As to his being on the foot of a servant. --Walpole. 7. A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See {Yard}. Note: This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters. 8. (Mil.) Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. [bd]Both horse and foot.[b8] --Milton. 9. (Pros.) A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent. 10. (Naut.) The lower edge of a sail. Note: Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much used as the first of compounds. {Foot artillery}. (Mil.) (a) Artillery soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. --Farrow. {Foot bank} (Fort.), a raised way within a parapet. {Foot barracks} (Mil.), barracks for infantery. {Foot bellows}, a bellows worked by a treadle. --Knight. {Foot company} (Mil.), a company of infantry. --Milton. {Foot gear}, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots. {Foot hammer} (Mach.), a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle. {Foot iron}. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter. {Foot jaw}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Maxilliped}. {Foot key} (Mus.), an organ pedal. {Foot level} (Gunnery), a form of level used in giving any proposed angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. --Farrow. {Foot mantle}, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a riding skirt. [Obs.] {Foot page}, an errand boy; an attendant. [Obs.] {Foot passenger}, one who passes on foot, as over a road or bridge. {Foot pavement}, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a trottoir. {Foot poet}, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] --Dryden. {Foot post}. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail delivery by means of such carriers. {Fot pound}, [and] {Foot poundal}. (Mech.) See {Foot pound} and {Foot poundal}, in the Vocabulary. {Foot press} (Mach.), a cutting, embossing, or printing press, moved by a treadle. {Foot race}, a race run by persons on foot. --Cowper. {Foot rail}, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower side. {Foot rot}, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness. {Foot rule}, a rule or measure twelve inches long. {Foot screw}, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place. {Foot secretion}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Sclerobase}. {Foot soldier}, a soldier who serves on foot. {Foot stick} (Printing), a beveled piece of furniture placed against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place. {Foot stove}, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for warming the feet. {Foot tubercle}. (Zo[94]l.) See {Parapodium}. {Foot valve} (Steam Engine), the valve that opens to the air pump from the condenser. {Foot vise}, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a treadle. {Foot waling} (Naut.), the inside planks or lining of a vessel over the floor timbers. --Totten. {Foot wall} (Mining), the under wall of an inclosed vein. {By foot}, [or] {On foot}, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot. {Cubic foot}. See under {Cubic}. {Foot and mouth disease}, a contagious disease (Eczema epizo[94]tica) of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs. {Foot of the fine} (Law), the concluding portion of an acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was conveyed. See {Fine of land}, under {Fine}, n.; also {Chirograph}. (b). {Square foot}. See under {Square}. {To be on foot}, to be in motion, action, or process of execution. {To keep the foot} (Script.), to preserve decorum. [bd]Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.[b8] --Eccl. v. 1. {To put one's foot down}, to take a resolute stand; to be determined. [Colloq.] {To put the best foot foremost}, to make a good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] {To set on foot}, to put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription. {To} {put, [or] set}, {one on his feet}, to put one in a position to go on; to assist to start. {Under foot}. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to trample under foot. --Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] [bd]They would be forced to sell . . . far under foot.[b8] --Bacon.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futhorc \Fu"thorc\ Futhork \Fu"thork\, n. [Written also {futharc}, {futhark}.] The Runic alphabet; -- so called from the six letters f, u, [thorn] (th), o (or a), r, c (=k). The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. --I. Taylor. Note: The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futhorc \Fu"thorc\ Futhork \Fu"thork\, n. [Written also {futharc}, {futhark}.] The Runic alphabet; -- so called from the six letters f, u, [thorn] (th), o (or a), r, c (=k). The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. --I. Taylor. Note: The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futhorc \Fu"thorc\ Futhork \Fu"thork\, n. [Written also {futharc}, {futhark}.] The Runic alphabet; -- so called from the six letters f, u, [thorn] (th), o (or a), r, c (=k). The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. --I. Taylor. Note: The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futhorc \Fu"thorc\ Futhork \Fu"thork\, n. [Written also {futharc}, {futhark}.] The Runic alphabet; -- so called from the six letters f, u, [thorn] (th), o (or a), r, c (=k). The letters are called Runes and the alphabet bears the name Futhorc from the first six letters. --I. Taylor. Note: The spelling futharc represents most accurately the original values of these six Runic letters.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futurism \Fu"tur*ism\, n. (Painting) A movement or phase of post-impressionism (which see, below).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Futurist \Fu"tur*ist\, n. 1. One whose chief interests are in what is to come; one who anxiously, eagerly, or confidently looks forward to the future; an expectant. 2. (Theol.) One who believes or maintains that the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible is to be in the future.
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Feather Sound, FL (CDP, FIPS 21945) Location: 27.90935 N, 82.65709 W Population (1990): 2690 (1535 housing units) Area: 10.9 sq km (land), 25.6 sq km (water)
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, CA (CDP, FIPS 23973) Location: 38.32227 N, 122.47978 W Population (1990): 2024 (966 housing units) Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
feature creature n. [poss. fr. slang `creature feature' for a horror movie] 1. One who loves to add features to designs or programs, perhaps at the expense of coherence, concision, or {taste}. 2. Alternately, a mythical being that induces otherwise rational programmers to perpetrate such crocks. See also {feeping creaturism}, {creeping featurism}.
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
feature creep n. [common] The result of {creeping featurism}, as in "Emacs has a bad case of feature creep".
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
feature key n. [common] The Macintosh key with the cloverleaf graphic on its keytop; sometimes referred to as `flower', `pretzel', `clover', `propeller', `beanie' (an apparent reference to the major feature of a propeller beanie), {splat}, `open-apple' or (officially, in Mac documentation) the `command key'. In French, the term `papillon' (butterfly) has been reported. The proliferation of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle peril of iconic interfaces. Many people have been mystified by the cloverleaf-like symbol that appears on the feature key. Its oldest name is `cross of St. Hannes', but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a decorative motif. Throughout Scandinavia today the road agencies use it to mark sites of historical interest. Apple picked up the symbol from an early Mac developer who happened to be Swedish. Apple documentation gives the translation "interesting feature"! There is some dispute as to the proper (Swedish) name of this symbol. It technically stands for the word `seva"rdhet' (thing worth seeing); many of these are old churches. Some Swedes report as an idiom for the sign the word `kyrka', cognate to English `church' and pronounced (roughly) /chur'ka/ in modern Swedish. Others say this is nonsense. Other idioms reported for the sign are `runa' (rune) or `runsten' /roon'stn/ (runestone), derived from the fact that many of the interesting features are Viking rune-stones. The term `fornminne' /foorn'min'*/ (relic of antiquity, ancient monument) is also reported, especially among those who think that the Mac itself is a relic of antiquity.
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
feature shock n. [from Alvin Toffler's book title "Future Shock"] A user's (or programmer's!) confusion when confronted with a package that has too many features and poor introductory material.
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
featurectomy /fee`chr-ek't-mee/ n. The act of removing a feature from a program. Featurectomies come in two flavors, the `righteous' and the `reluctant'. Righteous featurectomies are performed because the remover believes the program would be more elegant without the feature, or there is already an equivalent and better way to achieve the same end. (Doing so is not quite the same thing as removing a {misfeature}.) Reluctant featurectomies are performed to satisfy some external constraint such as code size or execution speed.
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
FUD wars /fuhd worz/ n. [from {FUD}] Political posturing engaged in by hardware and software vendors ostensibly committed to standardization but actually willing to fragment the market to protect their own shares. The Unix International vs. OSF conflict about Unix standards was one outstanding example; Microsoft vs. Netscape vs. W3C about HTML standards is another.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
feature creature [Possibly from slang "creature feature" for a horror movie] 1. One who loves to add features to designs or programs, perhaps at the expense of coherence, concision or {taste}. 2. Alternately, a mythical being that induces otherwise rational programmers to perpetrate such crocks. See also {feeping creaturism}, {creeping featurism}. [{Jargon File}]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
feature creep {creeping featurism}
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
feature key (Or "flower", "pretzel", "clover", "propeller", "beanie" (from propeller beanie), {splat}, "command key") The {Macintosh} key with the cloverleaf graphic on its keytop. The feature key is the Mac's equivalent of an {alt} key (and so labelled on some Mac II keyboards). The proliferation of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle peril of iconic interfaces. Many people have been mystified by the cloverleaf-like symbol that appears on the feature key. Its oldest name is "cross of St. Hannes", but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a decorative motif. Throughout Scandinavia today the road agencies use it to mark sites of historical interest. {Apple Computer} picked up the symbol from an early {Macintosh} developer who happened to be Swedish. Apple documentation gives the translation "interesting feature"! There is some dispute as to the proper (Swedish) name of this symbol. It technically stands for the word "sev"ardhet" (interesting feature) many of these are old churches. Some Swedes report as an idiom for it the word "kyrka", cognate to English "church" and Scots-dialect "kirk" but pronounced /shir'k*/ in modern Swedish. Others say this is nonsense. [{Jargon File}] (1997-11-20)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
feature shock [Alvin Toffler's book title "Future Shock"] A user's (or programmer's!) confusion when confronted with a package that has too many features and poor introductory material. [{Jargon File}]
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
featurectomy /fee"chr-ek"t-mee/ The act of removing a {feature} from a program. Featurectomies come in two flavours, the "righteous" and the "reluctant". Righteous featurectomies are performed because the remover believes the program would be more elegant without the feature, or there is already an equivalent and better way to achieve the same end. (Doing so is not quite the same thing as removing a {misfeature}.) Reluctant featurectomies are performed to satisfy some external constraint such as code size or execution speed. [{Jargon File}] (1994-10-20)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
FUD wars /fuhd worz/ Political posturing, intended to create {FUD}, engaged in by hardware and software vendors ostensibly committed to standardisation but actually willing to fragment the market to protect their own shares. The {Unix International} vs. {OSF} conflict is but one outstanding example. [{Jargon File}] (1994-12-01)