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1871. Chambers' Journal, 23 Dec., p. 802, col. 2. The Fighting Fifth was distinguished by its men wearing a white plume in the cap, when the similar ornament of the other regiments was a red and white tuft.
1890. Standard, 25 April, p. 3, col. 4, 'St. George's Day.' With the exception of the annual observances by the Northumberland Fusiliers, better known as the Fighting Fifth, and a concert at the Crystal Palace, there does not seem to have been the smallest notice taken of what was, not a hundred years ago, a recognised popular festival throughout the length and breadth of once merrie England.
Fighting Ninth, subs. phr.
(military).—The Ninth Foot.
Also Holy Boys (Peninsular),
from its selling its Bibles for
drink.] Cf., Fighting Fifth.
Fighting Tight, adv. phr. (American).—Drunk and quarrelsome. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.
Fig-leaf, subs, (common).—An
apron. In fencing, the padded
shield worn over the lower abdomen
and right thigh. Fr., une
petite bannette. Cf., Belly-cheat
and Flag.
Figs (also Figgins), subs, (colloquial).—A
grocer.
Figure, subs. (colloquial).—1.
Appearance; conduct; e.g., to
CUT A GOOD or BAD FIGURE, A
MEAN FIGURE, SORRY FIGURE,
etc.
1712. Spectator, No. 479. Men cannot, indeed, make a sillier figure, than in repeating such pleasures and pains to the rest of the world.
1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xvii. Peradventure our youth is fast, and aspires to be a man of figure.
2. (colloquial).—Price; value; amount.
d. 1863. Thackeray [quoted in Annandale]. Accommodating the youngster, who had just entered the regiment, with a glandered charger at an uncommonly stiff figure.
1864. London Society, Oct., p. 480. She had saved . . . about four hundred a year out of the wreck . . . and so, on the whole, did not do badly in life. Happiness has been found at even a lower 'figure.'
1883. Sala, Living London, p. 184. The 'figure' to be paid to Madame Adelina Patti for her forthcoming season.
1886. Cornhill Mag., March, p. 304. 'About what is their figure?' asked Mr. Corder. 'Slim and graceful,' answered the lady. 'I don't mean that,' said the ex-smoked-mother-of-pearl-button manufacturer; 'I mean, what is each of them worth in money?'
3. (colloquial).—Paps and posteriors; said only of women. No FIGURE = wanting in both particulars.
Verb (billiards').—To single out; to spot (q.v.).
[Figure, like fetch, comes in for a good deal of hard work in America. It is colloquially equivalent to 'count upon'; as, 'you may figure on getting a reply by return mail'; also = to strive for. To figure on [a THING] = to think it over; to figure out = to estimate; to figure up = to add up; to cut a figure, see CUT; TO GO THE WHOLE FIGURE = to be thorough; to go the big figure = to launch out; to miss a FIGURE = to make a mistake.]
Figure-dancer, subs, (thieves').—A
manipulator of the face value
of banknotes, cheques, and paper
security generally.—Grose [1785]
Figure-fancier, subs. (venery).—An
amateur of large-made women.
Figure-head, subs. (nautical).—The
face. For synonyms, see
Dial.
Figure-maker, subs, (venery).—A
wencher. [In allusion to the
enlarged 'figures' of pregnant
women.] For synonyms, see
Molrower.
