farthing 
3f. Anything very small ; a small quantity. 
In hire cuppe was no ferthimj seue 
Of greece, whan she drunken hadde hire draughte. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 134. 
[In the New Testament farthing is used to translate the 
Greek name of two small Roman coins, the assariux, worth 
one and a half cents, and the quadrant:, a quarter of 
an assarius. ] Farthing damages. See da HUHJC. Far- 
thing noble, an old English gold coin of 1 shilling and 8 
pi-nee, equal to the fourth of a noble. 
farthingale (fiir'THiug-gal), . [Also written 
f(mUnijule,fardin<jal, formerly rardingale, var- 
dingall, etc.; corrupt forms, < OF. verdugalle, 
vertngalle, dim. rcrtugadin, mod. F. vertugadin 
(=It.verdugale, dim. verdugalino), < Sp. rerdu- 
gado, a farthingale, lit. 'hooped' (cf. Sp. verdu- 
gal, young shoots growing in a wood after cut- 
ting), < rerdugo (= Pg. rerdugo), a young shoot 
of a tree, a rod, a ring for the ears, a hoop, 
etc., < verde, green, < L. viridis, green: see ver- 
dant, vert, viriil. The E. form may have been 
affected by that of martingale^ q. v.] A con- 
trivance for extending the skirts of women's 
dresses, resembling the modern hooped skirt 
and made of ribs of whalebone run into a cloth 
foundation. It was introduced into England from 
France about 1545. It reached its greatest degree and in- 
convenience about 1610, when it gave the skirt an almost 
perfectly cylindrical form, the top of the cylinder being 
covered by the short skirt of a kind of basque maintained 
in a nearly horizontal position, or by loosely putted folds 
of the material of the dress. It was still in use as late as 
1662. Compare hoopl and crinoline. 
And revel it as bravely as the best . . . 
With ruffs, and cuffs, B-nAfarthingalex, and things. 
Skak., T. of the S., iv. 3. 
Enter Grilla in a rich gown, a great fardingale, a great 
ruff, a muff, a fan, and a coxcomb on her head. 
Ford, Lover's Melancholy, iii. 3. 
The Queene arriv'd with a traine of Portuguese ladies 
in their monstrous fardinyals or guard-infantas. 
Evelyn, Diary, May 30, 1662. 
A pale Roman nose, a head of hair loaded with crowns 
and powdered with diamonds, a vast ruff, a vaster fardin- 
gale, and a bushel of pearls are the features by which 
every body knows at once the picture of Queen Elizabeth. 
Walpole, Anecdotes of Painting, I. vii. 
farthing-bound (far-THing-bound), a. Same as 
fardel-bound. [Prov. Eng.] 
farthingdalet (fiir'THing-dal), n. Same as/or- 
dinqdeiil. 
farthing-loaft (fiir'THing-lof), . [< ME. fer- 
thinglof.] A loaf sold for a farthing. 
3if the ferthinylof is ill defawte of wyjte ouer twelf 
pans, tho bakere is in the a-mercy [fine]. 
English Gilds (E. E. T. S), p. 354. 
fasces, Plural of fastis. 
fascet (fas'et), n. [A corrupt form of faucet, 
q. v.] 1. Same as faucet. 2. In glass-manuf. : 
(a) A basket of wire secured to the end of a 
rod, for the purpose of carrying the bottle from 
the mold or blowing-rod to the leer. (6) A rod 
put into the mouth of the bottle for the same 
purpose. E. H. Knight. 
fascia (fash'i-a), .; p\.fastiai(-e). [L., a band, 
bandage, girth, fillet; connected with fastis, 
a bundle.] 1. In Bom. antiq., a band, sash, or 
fillet of various forms and uses, worn around 
tho head, the waist, the feet and legs, etc. 
A white diadem on her head, from whence descended a 
veil, and that bound with a fascia of several coloured silks. 
B. Jonson, Masque of Hymen. 
The legs were protected by flat bands (fasciae) laced 
round them up to the knees. Encyc. Brit., VI. 457. 
Hence 2. In arcli., any flat member or mold- 
ing with but little projection, as the narrow 
horizontal bands or broad fillets into which the 
architraves of Ionic and Corinthian entabla- 
tures are divided (see cut under column) ; also, 
in brick buildings, the jutting of the bricks be- 
yond the windows in the several stories except 
the highest. 3. In bot., an encircling or trans- 
verse band or ridge. 4. In music: (a) A tie 
or bind. (b) The sides of a fiddle. 5. In as- 
tron., a belt of the planet Jupiter. See belt, 3 (a). 
6. In surg., a bandage, roller, or ligature. 
7. In anat. : (a) A sheet or layer of condensed 
connective tissue, forming a fibrous membrane 
resembling tendon or ligament, spread out in a 
layer, and investing, confining, supporting, and 
separating or uniting some muscle or any other 
special tissue, part, or organ of the body ; also, 
such tissue in general ; an aponeurosis' (which 
see). The general contour of the body is invested just be- 
neath the skin with a thin, light fascia, known as the sub- 
cutaneous or superficial fascia, as distinguished from the 
thicker, tougher, and more distinctly fibrous deep fascia, 
which invests and forms sheaths for the muscles, and dips 
down among the muscles and bundles of muscular fibers, 
forming fibrous intermuscular septa. Fascia? being sim- 
ply condensed layers of the general fibrous connective tis- 
sue of the body, there is really no abrupt demarcation or 
definition between any of them ; and the general system 
2146 
of fascia? is continuous with ligaments, tendons, sinrws. 
periosteum, etc. (f>) Some fillet-like arrangement 
of parts; a band: as, the fascia dentata, the 
dentate fascia of the brain, the serrated band 
of gray matter lying alongside of and beneath 
the fimbria. 8. In zool., a bar, baud, or belt 
of color" on the skin or its appendages, as 
hair, feathers, or scales: chiefly an ornithologi- 
cal term applied to broad crosswise markings, 
as distinguished from longitudinal stripes or 
Streaks Anal fascia. Same as ischiorectal fascia. 
Aponeurotic fascia?, a general name of the deep fascia 1 , 
as distinguished from the superficial or ilbro-areolar fas- 
cia!. See def. 7 (a). Bicipital fascia. See biei]iitn/. 
Cervical fascia, the fascia of the neck : divided into a 
superficial above and a deep beneath the platysiua mus- 
cle. Cooper's fascia. Same as fascia of Sat rjM. Cos- 
tocoracofd fascia, the fibrous membrane which stretches 
between the thorax and the coracoid, investing and pro- 
tecting the axillary vessels and nerves and sheathing the 
muscles of the parts, as the subclavins and pectoralis mi- 
nor. Also called costocoracoid membrane. CremasteriC 
fascia, the delicate membrane which connects the several 
detached loops of the cremaster muscle, and forms one of 
the coverings of the spermatic cord or of an inguinal her- 
nia. Cribriform fascia, that extent of the deep layer of 
the superficial fascia of the thigh which corresjionds to 
the saphenous opening of the fascia lata: so called from 
being pierced by many holes for the passage of small 
blood-vessels and lymphatics. Dimidiate fascia. See 
dimidiate. Fascia endoabdoniinalis. same &s fascia 
transcersalis. Fascia endogastrica. Same & fascia 
transversalis. Fascia endotnoraclca, the fascia which 
lies between the costal pleura and the ribs and intercostal 
muscles. Fascia lata, the broad fascia of the thigh, or 
femoral sheath ; the specially dense and tough fascia which 
envelops all the muscles of the thigh, sends intermuscu- 
lar fascial septa between them, with other prolongations 
which sheathe the vessels, and is operated upon by a spe- 
cial muscle, the tensor vagina? femoris. Fascia lumbo- 
dprsalis, the conjoined lumbar and dorsal fasciae. Fas- 
cia lumborum, the lumbar fascia. Fascia muBculi- 
transversi. Same v& fascia transcersalis. Fascia nu- 
Chse, a thin fascia lying beneath the trapezius and rhom- 
boid muscles. Fascia of pyriformis, a thin extension 
of the obturator fascia covering the pyriformis muscle 
and the sacral plexus. Fascia of Scarpa, the deeper 
layer of the superficial layer of the abdominal fascia in 
the groin. Fascia transversalis, a thin membrane 
lying between the transversalis muscle and the perito- 
neum. Also called sub]>eritoneal fascia. Fibro-areolar 
fascia, a general name of the superficial fascia. See 
def. 7 (a). Iliac fascia, the aponeurotic layer which 
lines the back part of the abdominal cavity and covers 
the psoas and iliacus muscles. Infraspinous fascia, 
a thick membrane attached to the circumference of the 
infraspinous fossa, covering in the infraspinatus muscle 
and affording attachment to some of its fibers. Infun- 
dibulifprm fascia, the funnel-shaped prolongation of 
the fascia of the transversalis muscle into the internal 
abdominal ring, and so into the inguinal canal, invest- 
ing the spermatic cord for some distance, and forming 
one of the coverings of an inguinal hernia. Also called 
internal spermatic fascia. Intercolumnar fascia, the 
thin membrane which is extended between the columns 
or pillars of the external abdominal ring, occluding that 
opening to some extent, and thence prolonged upon the 
spermatic cord, forming one of the coverings of the cord 
and of an inguinal hernia. Also called external sjiermatic 
fascia. Intercostal fascise, three layers, one covering 
the outer surface of the external intercostal muscles, one 
the inner surface of the internal intercostals, and one 
interposed between those two muscular layers. Inter- 
muscular fascia, any prolongation of a fascia between 
muscles. Ischiorectal fascia, the fascia which lines 
part of the ischiorectal fossa, lying upon the external sur- 
face of the levator ani muscle, and continuous with the ob- 
turator fascia. Also called anal fascia. Lumbar fascia, 
the vertebral or posterior aponeurosis of the transversalis 
muscle, consisting of an anterior layer attached to the 
anterior surface of the transverse processes of the lumbar 
vertebra;, a middle attached to the apices of those pro- 
cesses and a posterior attached to the spinous processes of 
the lumbar vertebra?. The anterior and middle layers in- 
close the quadratus lumbornm muscle, and the middle and 
posterior the erector spina?. Obturator fascia, a fascia 
extendingdownward from the pelvic fascia ui>on the upper 
surface of the levator ani muscle and investing the pros- 
tate gland, bladder, and rectum. In the female it is perfo- 
rated by the vagina. Palmar fascia, the deep fascia of 
the palm of the hand, into which the tendon of the palmaris 
muscle expands, and which is continuous with the fascial 
sheaths of the fingers. See cut under muscle. Pelvic 
fascia, a membrane lining the pelvic cavity, continuous 
with the transversalis and iliac fascia? above and divid- 
ing into the obturator and rectovesical fascia? below. Also 
used so as to include the obturator, rectovesical, and ischio- 
rectal fascia?. Perineal fascia, the fascia of the peri- 
neum. Two parts are distinguished, the superficial and 
the deep ; the latter constitutes in part the triangular 
ligament. Plantar fascia, the fascia of the sole of the 
foot; an extremely thick, tough fibrous sheet of glistening 
pearly texture arising from the os calcis, binding down 
the deeper structures of the sole, and continuous with 
the fascial sheaths of the toes. Rectovesical fascia, a 
fascia between the rectum and the bladder, forming the 
visceral layer of the general pelvic fascia, lining the upper 
or internal surface of the levator ani, and partially invest- 
ing the rectum, bladder, and prostate gland. Spermatic 
fascia. See ititrrcoluinnar and infitndibuliform fascia. 
Subperitoneal fascia, the fascia transversalis. Sub- 
scapular fascia, a thin membrane attached to the en- 
tire circumference of the subscapular fossa, covering the 
subscapular muscle and affording attachment to some of 
its fibers. Supraspinous fascia, a thick membrane cov- 
ering in the supraspinatus muscle. Temporal fascia, 
the fascia attached to the upper temporal ridge above and 
the zygoma below, covering the temporal muscle, and fur- 
nishing on its inner side attachment to some of the fibers 
of that muscle. 
fascicular 
fascia-board (fash'i-ji-bord), n. In a railroad- 
car, a projecting molding under the inside cor- 
nice. Car-Builder's Jiirl. 
fasciae, . Plural of fascia. 
fascial 1 (fash'i-al), a. Belonging to the fasces. 
fascial 2 (f ash'i-al), a. [< NL. fascialis, < L. fax- 
da, a band.] Pertaining to a fascia; constitut- 
ing a fascia; consisting of fascia; aponeurotic: 
as, fascial tissue. 
fascialist (fash-i-a'lis), n. ; pi. fasciales (-lez). 
[NL., < L. fascia, a band: see fascia.] In anat., 
the sartorius muscle. 
fasciate (fash'i-at), a. [< NL. fasciatus, < L. 
fascia, a bundle, band: seefastia.] 1. In bot. : 
(a) Banded or compacted together, (b) Same 
a.s fasciated, 2. 2. In zoiil., marked with a fas- 
cia or with f asciee. See fascia, 8. 
fasciated (fash'i-a-ted), a. 1. Bound with a 
fillet, sash, or bandage. 
For the armes not lying fasciated, or wrapt up after the 
Grecian manner, but in a middle distention, the including 
lines will strictly make out that figure. 
Sir T. Brmme, Garden of Cyrus, ii. 
2. In bot. : (a) Affected with fasciation. 
The . . . theory that a fasciated branch is due, not 
to over-luxuriance of life, but to a degradation of vital 
power. Science, III. 694. 
(6) Marked with cross-bands of color. Also/a- 
ciate Fasciated falcon, finch, etc. See the nouns. 
fasciately (fash'i-at-li), adv. In a fasciate 
manner; in bundles. 
Filaments fasciately placed together. 
if. C. Wood, Fresh-Water Alga), p. 21. 
fasciation (fash-i-a'shqn), n. [< NL. fascia- 
tio(n-), < L. fascia (kindred with fastis), a 
band: see fascia.] 1. The act or manner of 
binding with f asciaB ; specifically, a bandaging. 
Three especial sorts of fasciation or rowling have the 
worthies of our profession commended to posterity. 
Witetium, Surgery. 
2. That with which something is bound ; a fas- 
cia. 
And even diadems themselves were bnt/awiarioiu, and 
handsome ligatures, about the heads of princes. 
Sir T. Brmmc, Garden of Cyrus, it. 
3. In bot., a malformation in plants, in which 
a stem or branch becomes expanded into a flat, 
ribbon-like shape, as if several stems were lat- 
erally coalescent in one plane. This form of mon- 
strous growth is of frequent occurrence, and in the cocks- 
comb (Celosia) it is the ordinary state of the plant. 
A number of phenomena, conceded to result from low 
vital conditions, were considered by him to be insepara- 
bly connected with fasciation, the essential feature of 
which is the production of an extraordinary number of 
buds, with a corresponding suppression of the normal in- 
ternodal spaces. ... In severe winters the branches in 
the fasciation wholly die in many cases, while those on 
other portions of the tree survive. Science, III. 694. 
4. In soiil., marking with fascia?; barring, band- 
ing, or transverse striping. 
fascicle (fas'i-kl), n. [= F. fascicule, a part of 
a book published in numbers, = Sp. fasciculo 
= Pg. fastictilo, a 
small bundle of herbs, 
= It.fascifolo, a num- 
ber of a book, < L. 
fasciculus, a small 
bundle, packet (as of 
letters, books, etc.), 
a nosegay, dim. of 
fastis, a bundle: see 
fastis.'] A bundle; 
a small collection or 
connected group; a 
cluster. Specifically 
(a) In bot. : (1) A close clus- 
ter, as of leaves, flowers, 
etc. : sometimes limited in 
use to a condensed cyme. 
Flowers . . . diversified with tints of orange-scarlet, of 
pale yellow, or of bright orange, which grows deeper every 
day, and forms a variety of shades according to the age of 
each blossom that opens in the fascicle. 
Sir W. Jones, Select Indian Plants. 
(2) In mosses, the tissue of elongated cells taking the place 
of fibrovascular bundles in the nerves, etc. (6) In zoo/, 
and anat., a fasciculus, (c) A part of a printed work; a 
smallnumberof printed or written sheets bound together. 
Also, in all senses, fasciculus. 
Whole fascicles there are, wherein the Professor ... is 
not once named. Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, p. 53. 
Fascicle of Flowers of the Mal- 
low. (From Le Maout and De- 
caisne's " Traite general de Bo- 
tanique.") 
fascicled (fas'i-kld), a. [< fascicle + -erR] 
Same as fasciculate. 
Flowers fascicled, fragrant just after sunset and before 
sunrise. Sir W. Jones, Select Indian Plants. 
fascicular (fa-sik'u-lar), a. [< fasciculus + 
-ar 2 .] Same asfas'ticiitate Fascicular system, 
in&o(., same a&jibrovascular system (which see, under/i&ro- 
TXiscidar). 
