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fillip was our Word of the Day on 12/11/2016. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of fillip in a Sentence
used a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to fillip the otherwise ordinary cranberry sauce
Did You Know?
Like "flip" and "flick," "fillip" is considered a phonetic imitation of the sharp release of a curled-up finger aimed to strike something. Language history suggests that people were "filliping" in the 15th-century, well before they were "flipping" (1567) and "flicking" (1629). Specifically, "fillip" describes a strike or gesture made by the sudden straightening of a finger curled up against the thumb - a motion commonly referred to as "a flick." It didn't take long before the sensational stinging smartness of filliping was extended to figurative use. "I mark this in our old Mogul's wine; it's quite as deadening to some as filliping to others," observes Herman Melville's Dutch sailor of wine's "stimulating" effect in Moby Dick.
Origin and Etymology of fillip
probably of imitative origin
fillip
Definition of fillip
1a : a blow or gesture made by the sudden forcible straightening of a finger curled up against the thumbb : a short sharp blow : buffet
2 : something tending to arouse or excite: such asa : stimulus just the fillip my confidence needed lent a fillip of danger to the sportb : a trivial addition : embellishment showy fillips of languagec : a significant and often unexpected development : wrinkle plot twists and fillips
Examples of fillip in a Sentence
a structural fillip that will add much to the appearance of the building
lent a fillip of danger to the sport
Recent Examples of fillip from the Web
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Lower oil prices lead to cheaper gasoline prices, which can prompt consumers to increase their spending on other goods and services, usually a fillip for the wider economy.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fillip.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of fillip
1519
FILLIP Defined for English Language Learners
fillip
Definition of fillip for English Language Learners
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: an added part or feature that makes something more interesting or exciting
Learn More about fillip
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fillip
Seen and Heard
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