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Webster 1913 Edition

Fillip

Fil′lip

(fĭl′lĭp)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Filliped
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Filliping
.]
[For
filp
,
flip
. Cf.
Flippant
.]
1.
To strike with the nail of the finger, first placed against the ball of the thumb, and forced from that position with a sudden spring; to snap with the finger.
“You fillip me o’ the head.”
Shak.
2.
To snap; to project quickly.
The use of the elastic switch to
fillip
small missiles with.
Tylor.

Fil′lip

,
Noun.
1.
A jerk of the finger forced suddenly from the thumb; a smart blow.
2.
Something serving to rouse or excite.
I take a glass of grog for a
filip
.
Dickens.

Webster 1828 Edition

Fillip

FIL'LIP

,
Verb.
T.
[probably from the root of L. pello, like pelt. See Filly.]
To strike with the nail of the finger, first placed against the ball of the thumb, and forced from that position with some violence.

FIL'LIP

,
Noun.
a jerk of the finger forced suddenly from the thumb.

Definition 2024

Fillip

Fillip

See also: fillip

Danish

Proper noun

Fillip

  1. Alternative spelling of Filip

fillip

fillip

See also: Fillip

English

Noun

fillip ‎(plural fillips)

  1. (archaic) A flick; the act of releasing the index finger from the hold of a thumb with a snap.
  2. Something that excites or stimulates.
    This measure gave a fillip to the housing market.
    This athlete's victory provided a much-needed fillip for national pride.

Translations

Verb

fillip ‎(third-person singular simple present fillips, present participle filliping, simple past and past participle filliped)

  1. (transitive) To strike or project with the nail of a finger snapped from the end of the thumb; flick.
    • Shakespeare
      You fillip me o' the head.
  2. (transitive) To tap or strike smartly.
  3. (transitive) To make a fillip; drive by or as by a fillip; stimulate; excite; whet.
    The spicy aroma filliped my appetite.
    • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 40
      Grand snoozing to-night, maty; fat night for that. I mark this in our old Mogul’s wine; it’s quite as deadening to some as filliping to others.
  4. To snap; to project quickly.
    • Tylor
      the use of the elastic switch to fillip small missiles with

Translations

Etymology

From Middle English philippe, filippen ‎(“to make a sound with right forefinger and thumb, snap”). Origin uncertain. Probably an alteration of Middle English flappen ‎(“to hit, slap, clap, applaud”). More at flap.
A fillip gradually became “something of small importance; a trifle.” “The rest is not worth a fillip with the finger.” And, the word could also express a short space of time (perhaps the time it took to “flick” the finger). “The tortoise..in a fillip of the finger was down in the gardens of Riu Gu.” Only in the 18th and 19th centuries did its current usage, as encouragement or stimulus, tend to dominate.

Pronunciation

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