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illustration Fillip

Fillip

[FIL-əp]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: Possibly of imitative origin, mid-15th century

1.

Something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity.

2.

(Archaic) A movement made by bending the last joint of the finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it; a flick of the finger.

Examples of Fillip in a sentence

"With a fillip of two fingers, Serena flicked the acorn across the table."

"Springtime usually provides a fillip to automotive sales."

About Fillip

This word is likely an onomatopoeia — it appeared in the mid-16th century around the same time as “flip” and “flirt.” The noun and verb usages appeared contemporaneously.

Did you Know?

In addition to its use as a noun, the word “fillip” can also be a verb meaning “to flick something with a finger,” “to strike something sharply,” and “to stimulate/urge someone or something.” For example, “The doctor asked the patient a series of questions in an attempt to fillip her memory, but all she could do in response was fillip the table.”

illustration Fillip

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