fillip

verb

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fil·lip | \ ˈfi-ləp

filliped; filliping; fillips

Definition of fillip

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to make a filliping motion with

b : to strike or tap with a fillip filliped him on the nose

2 : to project quickly by or as if by a fillip fillip crumbs off the table

3 : stimulate with this to fillip his spirits— Robert Westerby

fillip

noun

Definition of fillip (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a blow or gesture made by the sudden forcible straightening of a finger curled up against the thumb

b : a short sharp blow : buffet

2 : something tending to arouse or excite: such as

a : stimulus just the fillip my confidence needed lent a fillip of danger to the sport

b : a trivial addition : embellishment showy fillips of language

c : a significant and often unexpected development : wrinkle plot twists and fillips

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about fillip

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Did You Know?

Verb

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.

Examples of fillip in a Sentence

Verb used a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to fillip the otherwise ordinary cranberry sauce Noun a structural fillip that will add much to the appearance of the building lent a fillip of danger to the sport

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Recall that President Trump reinstated $300 in weekly benefits in August by reappropriating FEMA funds, but that fillip lapsed in most states in October. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Schumer’s Unemployment Flip-Flop," 9 Dec. 2020 And, oddly, it has been given a fillip by a messy election result at home. — The Economist, "Why dollar assets are still riding high after America’s election," 7 Nov. 2020 Microsoft seemed ahead, and got a late fillip from Walmart joining its bid. — The Economist, "Oracle’s Trump card Who are the TikTok saga’s biggest winners?," 16 Sep. 2020 L’Etoile later tells me every table is treated to the fillip, which happens to be gluten-free. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "These three restaurants can help you keep date night on your to-do list," 21 Aug. 2020 Not just because of the potential revival of IS and the fillip to Mr Assad. — The Economist, "Donald Trump’s betrayal of the Kurds is a blow to America’s credibility," 17 Oct. 2019 An extra fillip on the main floor is the 24-foot bonus room. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "$2.8M Bloomfield Township mansion is dramatic, inside and out," 25 Jan. 2020 The only fillip the appetizer requires is parked nearby: brown soda bread with dreamy Irish butter. — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, "In Dublin, Chapter One begins and ends with pampering," 20 Nov. 2019 Abandoning plans to form a national champion and retrenching to focus on core clients might not give either bank’s stock price an immediate fillip. — Washington Post, "Put Germany’s Big Banking Merger Out of Its Misery," 5 Apr. 2019

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.