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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
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same yearDefinition of fillip
1 a
: 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
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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That looks like a fillip for those worried by declining faith in the news.
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While inflation has cooled in recent months and wage growth is starting to pick up, that good news for households is unlikely to give spending an immediate fillip, with workers still not seeing increases in real incomes.
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Riyad Mahrez's potential suitors have been handed a timely fillip after reports suggested Leicester will let their star man leave if the right offer is made.
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Getting a piece of the Aramco action would be a huge fillip for Hong Kong.
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But his countrymen who export in the opposite direction get a fillip, as their wares become more competitive.
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There are digressions and some wonderful visual fillips — beautifully curved trees and noble stone statues lined up like soldiers.
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The expected parliamentary logjam as Britain replaces EU laws with its own could bring another fillip for crooks.
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The right-back will play football for the first time since last March as part of the Toffees' Under-23s side against Portsmouth in the Premier League Cup on Tuesday evening, and his comeback will be a massive fillip to Sam Allardyce's senior ranks.
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 Synonyms
Synonyms
bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, lash, lick, pelt, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop (also whap);
Related Words
counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke;
body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut;
cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO;
battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing;
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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