Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FIRE'-PROOF, a.

Proof against fire; incombustible.

FIRE'-QUENCH-ING, a.

Extinguishing fire. Kirby.

FIR'ER, n.

One who sets fire to any thing; an incendiary,

FIRE'SHIP, n.

A vessel filled with combustibles and furnished with grappling irons to hook and set fire to an enemy's ships. Encyc.

FIRE'SHOV-EL, n.

A shovel or instrument for taking up or removing coals of fire.

FIRE'SIDE, n.

A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.

FIRE'STICK, n.

A lighted stick or brand. Digby.

FIRE'STONE, n.

1. A fossil, the pyrite. [See Pyrite.]
2. A kind of freestone which bears a high degree of heat. Cyc.

FIRE'WARD, or FIRE'WARD-EN, n.

An officer who has authority to direct othere in the extinguishing of fires.

FIRE'-WING-ED, a.

Having fiery wings. Carlisle.

FIRE'WOOD, n.

Wood for fuel.

FIRE'WORK, n. [Usually in the plural, fireworks.]

Preparations of gun-powder, sulphur and other inflammable materials, used for making explosions in the air, on occasions of public rejoicing; pyrotechnical exhibitions. This word is applied also to various combustible preparations used in war.

FIRE'WORK-ER, n.

An officer of artillery subordinate to the firemaster.

FIR-ING, n.

1. The act of discharging firearms.
2. Fuel; firewood or coal. Mortimer.

FIR'ING, ppr.

Setting fire to; kindling; animating; exciting; inflaming; discharging firearms.

FIR'ING-I-RON, n.

An instrument used in farriery to discuss swellings and knots. Encyc.

FIRK, v.t.

To beat; to whip; to chastise. [Not used.] Hudibras.

FIR-KIN, n. [fur'kin; The first syllable is probably the Dan. fire, D. vier, four, and the latter as in kilderkin.]

A measure of capacity, being the fourth part of a barrel. It is nine gallons of beer, or eight gallons of ale, soap or herrings. In America, the firkin is rarely used, except for butter or lard, and signifies a small vessel or cask of indeterminate size, or of different sizes, regulated by the statutes of the different states.

FIR'LOT, n.

A dry measure used in Scotland. The oat firlot contains 21 1-4 pints of that country; the wheat firlot 224 cubic inches; the barley firlot 21 standard pints. Encyc.

FIRM, a. [ferm; L. firmus; Fr. ferme, Sp. firme; It. fermo; W. fyrv. This Welsh word may be from the Latin. The root of the word is probably Celtic; W. fêr, hard, solid; fyr, a solid; feru, to concrete or congeal, to fix, to freeze. This is the root of L. ferrum, iron.]

1. Probably, fixed; hence, applied to the matter of bodies, it signifies closely compressed; compact; hard; solid; as, firm flesh; firm muscles; some species of wood are more firm than others; a cloth of firm texture.
2. Fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily moved; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent or supporter; a firm man, or a man of firm resolution.
3. Solid; not giving way; opposed to fluid; as, firm land.

FIRM, n. [ferm.]

A partnership or house; or the name or title under which a company transact business; as, the firm of Hope & Co.

FIRM, v.t. [ferm; L. firmo.]

To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish. And Jove has firm'd it with an awful clod. Dryden. This word is rarely used, except in poetry. In prose, we use confirm.

FIRM'A-MENT, a. [ferm'ament; L. firmamentum, from firmus, firmo.]

The region of the air; the sky or heavens. In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; for such is the signification of the Hebrew word, coinciding with regio, region, and reach. The original therefore does not convey the sense of solidity, but of stretching, extension; the great arch or expanse over our heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. i. 6. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament. Gen. i. 14.

FIRM-A-MENT'AL, a.

Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper regions. Dryden.

FIR'MAN, n.

An Asiatic word, denoting a passport, permit, license, or grant of privileges.