FLA 3 



FIXED SIGNS. An arbitrary denomina- 

 tion which some astronomers have given 

 Jo the signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and 

 Aquarius, the seasons being considered 

 most fixed when the sun is in these signs. 



FIXED STABS, are those which con- 

 stantly maintain the same relative posi- 

 tion with regard to each other, in con- 

 tradistinction to planet and comets, which 

 are constantly changing their positions. 



.FIXITY, the property by which bodies 

 resist the action of heat, so as not to rise 

 in vapour. 



FIXTURES. In law, a term generally 

 applied to all articles of a personal nature 

 affixed to land. 



FLAUEL'LIFORM, Lat. flabelliformis, fan- 

 shaped. Applied to plants. 



FLAG. 1. In botany, several aquatic 

 plants, which have long sword-like leaves, 



are called Hags (see ACORNS and IKIS.) 



2. In naval and military affairs, a general 

 name for colours, standards, banners, en- 

 signs, &c. The first flag in Great Britain 

 is the royal standard ; the second is the 

 " anchor of hope," the third is the union- 

 fir.-. 



FLAGEL'LANTS, a fanatical sect "who 

 arose in Italy, A.D. 1260, who maintained 

 that flagellation was of equal virtue with 

 baptism and the sacrament. They accord- 

 ingly walked in procession with bare 

 shoulders, and lashed themselves till the 

 blood flowed down their bodies. 



FLAGEL'LUM, Lat. dim. of flagrum, a 

 whip; a small whip. A runner or twig 

 which runs out long and slender, as that 

 of the strawberry. 



FLAG'EOLET (Fr.), a wooden musical 

 wind instrument, played with a mouth- 

 piece, and furnished with holes and keys 

 for fingering. 



FLAG-OFFICERS, those who command the 

 several squadrons of a fleet, as admirals, 

 vice-admirals, and rear-admirals. 



FLAG-SHIP, a ship commanded by a 

 flag-officer, who has a right to carry a 

 Hag, in contradistinction to the secondary 

 ships under his command. 



FLAKE-WHITE, properly a subnitrate of 

 bismuth (pearl-white), but the name is 

 frequently given to pure white lead. 



FLA'KY, Sw. flake, a layer. Having 

 scales or laminae. 



FLAME, Fr. and Germ.flamme, Lat.^am- 

 tna, the combustion of a mixture of an 

 inflammable gas, as hydrogen with air, 

 naturally ascending in a stream from 

 burning bodies, being specifically lighter 

 than common air. 



FLA'MEN (Lat.), a priest among the Ro- 

 mans. There were three so called : the 

 Xiamen Dialis, consecrated to Jupiter; 

 the Flamen Slartiaiis, sacred to Mars, and 

 ttieFlamen Quirinalis, who superintended 

 the rites of Uuirinus or Romulus. 



FiAjtm'oo corruD. from Sp. and Port. 



2 FLE 



flamenco, fromfiamma, flame. Pheemcop- 

 terus ruber, Lin., found in all parts of the 

 eastern continent below 40" ; and an Ame- 

 rican species, the Phtenicopterus ruber oi 

 Temminck. They take Ihtir name from, 

 the purple-red of the back, and rose- 

 coloured wings. They feed on shell-fish. 



FLANCHE, 1 A projecting piece, forming 



FLANGE. ] part of an iron girder or 

 framework. The flanges of castings un- 

 commonly placed flat against one another, 

 and holes are drilled through each, for the 

 passage of bolts to secure them together. 



FLANK. 1. In military tactics, a term 

 synonymous with the side, as distinguished 



from the front or rear of an army. 2 In. 



fortification, that part of a bastion which 

 reaches from the curtain to the face : it is 

 a line drawn from the extremity of the 



face towards the inside of the works. 



3. In architecture, the last side of a pa- 

 vilion, by which it is joined to the main 

 building. TbejConk-woBcofa bridge, &c., 

 are the wing or return walls. 



FLASHE, a description of sluice upon, 

 navigable rivers, erected for the purpose 

 of raising the water over shoals, &c., 

 while vessels are passing. 



FLASHINGS. In architecture, pieces of 

 lead or other metal, let into the joints of 

 a wall, so as to lap over the gutters or 

 other conduit pieces, and prevent the 

 splashing of rain injuring the interior 

 works. 



FLAT. In music, a character P, of which 

 the effect is to lower the note to which it 

 is affixed a semitone minor. In architec- 

 ture, that part in the covering of a house, 

 of lead or other metal, which is laid hori- 

 zontal ; also synonymous with storey, in 

 speaking of the number of floors or storeys 

 of a house; 



FLAT'TEN A SAIL, to extend it fore and 

 aft, whereby its effect is lateral only. 



FLAT'TINO. In gilding, the giving of 

 the work a light touch in places not fur- 

 nished with size, in which there is some- 

 times a very little vermilion. 2. In 



house-painting, the mode of finishing 

 without leaving a gloss on the surface, by 

 using a greater proportion of turpentine 

 and unboiled oil. 



FLA'VOUS, Lat. Jlavus, yellow. Of a 

 yellow colour. 



FLAX, Sax. fieax. The inner bark or 

 bast of the Linum usiiatissimum, which is 

 spun into yarn for weaving linen webs ; 

 also the plant which produces it. The 

 New Zealand flax (from the Phormium 

 tenax) , is said to exceed that cultivated in 

 Europe in strength and whiteness of fibre. 



FLEAM (Wei. ./tern). In farriery, an in- 



strument used for bleeding horsee and 



