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1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. xv. A soldier, who . . . was one of the most brilliant fire-eaters of his regiment.
Fire-escape, subs. (common).—A
clergyman. For synonyms, see
Devil-dodger.
Fire-prigger, subs. (old).—A
thief whose venue is a conflagration.—Grose
[1785].
Fireship, subs. (old).—A tainted
whore. For general synonyms,
see Barrack-hack and Tart.
Fire-spaniel, subs. (military).—A
soldier who 'nurses' the barrack-room
fire. Some English
synonyms are, fire-dog; fire-worshipper;
chimney-ornament;
fender-guard; and cuddle-chimney.
Firewater, subs. (American).—Ardent
spirits.
1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xiv. Yes. And awful firewater we used to get. The governor supplied me, like a wise man.
Fireworks, subs. (common).—A
state of disturbance; mental
excitement: e.g., fireworks on
the brain = to be in a fluster.
Firk, verb (old).—To beat.
1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iv., 6. Pistol. I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.
Firkytoodle, verb (common).—To
indulge in sexual endearments.
Also Firkytoodling = preliminary
caresses.
English Synonyms.—To canoodle; to fiddle; to mess (or pull) about; to slewther (Irish); to spoon; to crooky; to fam; to dildo; to caterwaul; to feel; to finger; to fumble; to grope; to clitorize; to touch up; to tip the long (or middle) finger; to guddle (Scots.)
French Synonyms. Mignoter (popular); jouer de la harpe (familiar: Leroux, in Dict. Comique, says: 'Jouer de la harpe signifie jouer des mains auprès d'une femme, la patiner, lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller, la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec les doigts); la petite oie (= preliminary favours); faire des horreurs (popular: des horreurs = broad or 'blue' talk; dire des horreurs = to talk bawd); bécoter (popular: = to make hot love); chouchouter (familiar: chouchou = darling).
Spanish Synonyms. Garatusa (= an act of endearment); caroca (generally used in plural, carocas = endearments); amoricones (vulgar).
Firmed.—See Well-firmed.
First-chop, adj. (common).—First
rate. [From Hind., chaap, a
stamp, an official mark on weights
and measures; hence used to
signify quality.] Also second-chop
(q.v.).
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. 'As for poetry, I hate poetry.' 'Pens is not first-chop,' says Warrington.
1880. A. Trollope, The Duke's Children, ch. lxviii. Old Beeswax thinks that if he can get me up to swear that he and his crew are real first-chop hands, that will hit the governor hard.
First Flight. In the first
flight, subs. phr. (sporting).—Those
first in at the finish; in
fox-hunting those in at the death.
1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxix. Then you promise you will dine with me at Lovegrove's, on Thursday,
