Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FIL'IAL, a. [fil'yal; Fr. filial; It. filiale, Sp. filial; from L. filius, a son, filia, a daughter. Sp. hijo, Coptic falu, Sans. bala or bali. It agrees in elements with foal and pullus. The Welsh has hiliaw and eppiliaw, to bring forth; hil and eppil, progeny.]

1. Pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming a child in relation to his parents. Filial love is such an affection as a child naturally bears to his parents. Filial duty or obedience is such duty or obedience as the child owes to his parents.
2. Bearing the relation of a son. Sprigs of like leaf erect their filial heads. Prior.