Gold Florin 
Museuir 
of Florence, in the British 
(Size of the original.) 
florin 
florf (< L. jlnrciii, ace. of flos), a flower. The 
allusion to Florence is secondary; the ult. 
source is the 
same : see Jlor- 
ence.] 1. The 
English name 
of a gold coin 
weighing about 
55 grains, first 
issued at Flor- 
ence in 1252, Obverse. Reverse. 
and having on 
the obverse a 
lily and the word "Florentia." The coin enjoyed 
great commercial popularity, and was largely imitated in 
France, Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, and elsewhere. 
And everich of thise riotoures ran, 
Til he cam to that tree, und ther they founde 
Otfloreiiiii fine of gold ycoined roumle, 
Wei ny an eighte busshels, as hem thoughte. 
Chaucer, Pardoner's Tale, 1. 308. 
2. An English gold coin issued by Edward III. 
in 1343-4, and worth at the time 6 shillings. 
On the obverse it bore a leopard crowned. 
In this yere also, kynge Edwarde made a coyn of fyne 
golde, and named it the floryne, that is to say, the peny 
of the value of vis. viiid., the halfe peny of the value of 
iiis. iiiid., and the farthynge of the value of xxd., which 
coyue was ordeyned for his warris in Fraunce. 
Fabi/an, Chron. (ed. Ellis), p. 455, an. 1343. 
3. An English silver coin worth 2 shillings, be- 
ing the tenth part of a pound, current since 
1849. 4. The silver gulden of Austria and for- 
merly of South Germany, and the guilder of the 
Netherlands, the first worth a little more and 
the other two a little less than the English flor- 
in. See gulden and guilder. 
Abbreviated fl. 
Florinean (flo-rin'e-an), n. [< Florinus (see 
def.) + -e-n>i.] One of a Gnostic sect of the 
second century, so called from Florinus, a pu- 
pil of Polycarp. 
floriparous (flo-rip'a-rus), a. [= F. floripare 
= Pg. floriparo, < LL. floriparns, producing 
flowers (of spring), < L. flos (flor-), a flower, 
+ parere, produce.] Producing flowers. 
floripondio (flo-ri-pon'di-6), n. [Sp. florii>on- 
dio, floripundio, magnolia, also smooth-stalked 
Brugmansia (B. Candida) ; < NL. floripondium, < 
L. flos (flor-), flower, +pondus, weight.] Aplant, 
the Datura sanguinea, an infusion from whose 
seeds, prepared by the Peruvians, induces stupe- 
faction, and, if much used, furious delirium. This 
infusion is said to have been used by the priests of the 
temple of the Sun in the ancient capital to produce fran- 
tic ravings, which were accepted as inspired prophecies. 
florist (flo'rist), . [= F. fleuriste = Sp. Pg. 
florista = It. florista, a florist, < L. flos (flor-), 
flower, + -ista, -ist.] 1. One who cultivates 
flowers; one skilled in the raising of flowers; 
especially, one who raises flowers for sale. 
The antients venially delighted in flourishing gardens ; 
many were flori-ntn that knew not the true use of a flower ; 
and in Plinie's daies none had directly treated of that sub- 
ject. Sir T. Brmene, Vulg. Err., ii., Ep. Ded. 
2. One who writes a flora or an account of plants. 
florisugent (flo-ri-su'jent), a. [< L. flos (flor-), 
flower, + sugen(t-)s, ppr. of sugere, suck: see 
suck.] Sucking flowers : an epithet applied to 
sundry birds and insects which suck honey from 
flowers. 
floritryt (flor'i-tri), n. [As if for *floriture (= 
It. fioritura), < ML. *floritura, flowery orna- 
ment, < floure, flower, flourish: see flourish.] 
Flowery ornament. 
The walls and arches [of the temple] crested and gar- 
nished with floi-itry. Sandys, Travailes, p. 125. 
floroon (flo-ron'), n. [< ME. flouroun, flower- 
work, < OF. floron, F. fleuron, a flower, jewel, 
gem, = Sp. floron = Pg. florSo = It. fiorone, 
aug. of F. fleur, Sp. Pg. flor = It. flore, < L. flos 
(flor-), a flower.] A border worked with flow- 
ers. 
florulent (flor'6-lent), a. [< L. florulentus, &ovf- 
ery, < L. flos (flor-), a flower.] Flowery; blos- 
soming ; in decorative art, formed wholly or in 
part of imitated flowers ; floreated. 
Florulent scrolls in relief upon a mat ground. 
H. S. Cmniny, Jour. ArclueoL Ass., XV. 227. 
floruloust (flor'o-lus), a. Florulent. 
flory (flo'ri), a. [See fleury, floree.] In her., 
same as fleury.^ Cross double-parted flory. See 
double. Cross nory. See erol . 
floscampyt, n. [An accom. of the L. flos cam- 
pi, flower of the field : flos (flor-), flower ; cam- 
pi, gen. of campus, field: see camp 2 .] A field- 
flower; a name of the rose of Sharon. 
Haill ! floxcampy, and flower vyrgynall, 
The odour o! thy goodnes reflars to vs all. 
fork Plays, p. 444. 
Wheel-animalcule, 
Floicttlaria orMata, 
magnified 500 times. 
2280 
floscular (flos'ku-ljir), a. [< floxruli- + -<o-i.] 
In hot., same as discoid, as applied to flower- 
heads in the (.'oiii/inxitii-; composed of 
Also floxrillotift, flnxrltlose. 
Floscularia (flos-ku-la'ri-a), n. t _., . 
I'lilnrix i see ./ZoeZe) + -i'o.} 1. The typical ge- 
nus of wheel-animalcules of the 
family t'losriilariida: F.probos- 
ciil/'ii and F. ornata are exam- 
ples. 2. A genus of rugose 
cup-corals : same as Cyutho- 
iilii/tlum. Kichinihl, 1829. 
Floscularisea (flos-ku-la-ri-e'- 
a), n. pi. [NL., < Jbseidarit 
'(see floscule) + -tea.] A group 
of rotifers, corresponding to the 
family Flosculariidit; 
floscularian (flos-ku-la'ri-an), 
n. A rotifer or wheel-animal- 
cule of the family f'losculariitla?. 
\\ e may call attention especially to 
the faittcularianx. They are common- 
ly found attached to the stems and 
leaves of :n|u:itic plants. The foot-stalk tearing the bell- 
shaped body is very long. Stand. Sat. Hittt., I. 204. 
FlOBCUlariidae (flos"ku-la-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Floscularia + -id<e.] A family of permanent- 
ly fixed rotifers, with a long ringed foot, usually 
with gelatinous coverings and tubes, and the 
wheel-organ lobed or deeply cleft. 
floscule (nos'kul), . [= F. flosculf. = Sp. fl6s- 
culo =r Pg. It. flosculo, < L. flosculu.i, also flos- 
cidn, {., a floweret, a little flower, dim. of flu* 
(flor-), a flower : see flower.] A floret. 
flosculett, . [< floscule + -et.] A bud. Davies. 
But when your own faire print was set 
Once in a virgin jloscule,t 
Sweet as yourself, and newly lilown, 
To give that life resign 'd your own. 
Heiriek, Hesperides, p. 133. 
Flosculidae (flos-ku'li-de), n. pi. [NL., < L. flos- 
culus (lit. a little flower) 4- -idrt?.] A family 
of Discomeduste with simple unbrauched nar- 
row radial canals, a ring-canal, central mouth, 
and mouth-arms at the end of a mouth-tube. 
flosculiferous (flos-ku-lif'e-rus), a. [< L. flos- 
culus, dim. of flos, a flowerj + ferre = E. bear 1 .] 
In entom., terminating in a distended hollow 
process or organ, open beneath, and somewhat 
resembling a labiate flower, as the abdomen of 
a fulgora or lantern-fly. 
flosculous, flosculose (flos'ku-lus, -16s), a. [< 
~L. floseulus, dim. of flos, a flower: see floscule.] 
Same as floscular. 
flos ferri (flos fer'I). A coralloid variety of 
calcium carbonate or aragonite, often found in 
connection with iron ores. 
flosh 1 (flosh), r. t. [Also floush ; a dial. var. of 
flash 2 and flush 2 , q. v.] To spill ; splash. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
flosh 2 (flosh), n. [< ME. flosshe, floxclte, another 
form of flasshe, flasche, a pool: see flash**, n.] 
1. A pool: same as flash 3 . 
Al in a semlile sweyed to-geder, 
Bitwene a rtoxche in that fryth, & a foo cragge. 
Sir Gawtyne and the Green Kniyht (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1430. 
2. A swamp; a body of standing water grown 
over with weeds, reeds, etc. Jamicson. [Scotch.] 
Ducks a paddock-hunting scour the bog, 
And powheads spartle in the ovsy flosh. 
Davidson, Seasons, p. 12. 
flosh 3 (flosh), . [Origin uncertain; either the 
same as flash 2 (cf . flosh-hole and flash 3 ), or an 
accom. of G. flosse, a float, a trough m which 
ore is washed: see float, n., and cf. floss 2 .] 
In metal., a hopper-shaped box in which ore is 
placed for the action of the stamps. The side of 
the box has a shutter, which is raised or lowered to allow 
the ore to escape when it has reached the desired fine- 
ness. 
flosh-hole (flosh'hol), . A hole which receives 
the waste water from a inill-pond. Halliwell. 
floshin (flosh'in), w. [Sc., also written floshan, 
dim. of flosh 2 , q. v.] A puddle larger than a 
dub, but shallow. Jamieson. 
flosh-silk (flosh'silk), n. Same as floss-silk. 
[Rare.] 
The truckle-bed of Valour and Freedom is not wadded 
with flash-silk. Landor. 
floss 1 (flos), n. [E. dial. , prob. a weakened form 
of flosh 2 , orig. flash : see flash 3 . The word, be- 
ing local Eng. , can hardly be borrowed from G. 
dial, floss, running water, a stream : see fleet 3 .] 
A small stream of water : used as a name in the 
extract. 
A wide plain, where the broadening Floss hurries on be- 
tween its green banks to the sea. 
George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, i. 1. 
flotation 
floss 2 (lias), n. [Pvob. < G. flatus, a raft, a boat, 
a float, flosse. a float, buoy: si -e flmil, .] 1. 
A fluid glass floating upon iron in a puddling- 
furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxids 
[NL., < *flos- and earths. 2. Same as floss-holt-. 
The /'<>sx, or outlet of the slag from the [iron-Jfurnacc. 
Ure, Dirt., II. !I7. 
floss 3 (flos), n. [Also written flosh (in comp. 
flt>.ih-ilk, q. v.) (= Dan. flos); < OF.flosche (in 
the phrase sinje flosclit; sleave silk), < It. flos- 
cia (flniit-iii stiii, sleave silk Florio); cf. OF. 
Jliisflu; \venk. soft, as a boneless lump of flesh, 
<It.floscio, dial, flosso. weak, soft, feeble, flac- 
cid, < li.flttxux, fluid, loose, slack, frail, weak, 
pp. of flni-fi; flow: sci- flux, fluent.] 1. A 
downy or silky substance inclosed by the husks 
of certain plants, as maize and milkweed. 2. 
Same as floss-sill, ; 3. The leaves of red cana- 
ry-grass; also, the common rush. [Scotch.] 
No person shall cut bent nor puK floss . . . before the 
LI st of Luimnas yearly. 
Quoted in G. Barry's Hist. Orkney Islands, App., p. 457. 
floss-embroidery (flos'em-broi*'d6r-i), w. Any 
embroidery in which floss-silk or filoselle is 
used in considerable quantities. On account of 
its delieaey and tendency to eliny to whatever touches it, 
and so suffer defacement, it is but little used in embroid- 
ery applied to wearing-apparel, and is employed especially 
for church embroidery. 
floss-hole (flos'hol), n. The opening in a blast- 
furnace where the slag is withdrawn. Also floss. 
Preventing the metal from running out at the floss-hole 
when it begins to fuse. Ure, Diet., II. 997. 
flossification (flos"i-fi-ka'shon), . [Improp. 
form offloriflcation, resting on "L.flos, nom., in- 
stead of flin--. the stem, of the first element.] 
Same nafloriflmtioii. 
floss-silk (flos 'silk), . [Sometimes written 
fl<ish-silk (= Dan. flos-silke) ; < floss 3 + silk.] 
Silk fiber from the finest part of the cocoon, 
carded and spun but not twisted, so as to be 
extremely soft and downy in its surface while 
retaining a high luster. It is used chiefly for 
embroidery. Filoselle often replaces it. 
flossy (flos'i), a. [< floss 3 + -y 1 .] Belonging 
to, composed of, or resembling floss. 
The thill floxst/ wreath of hair . . . invested his tem- 
ples. S. Jmld, Margaret, i. 2. 
floss-yarn (flos'yarn), . [(floss 3 + yarn.] A 
soft, slightly twisted yarn made from floss-silk 
or filoselle. 
flot (flot), n. [< ME. flot, a float, ship, etc.: 
see float, n. In def. 2 a particular use, < ME. 
flot, < AS. *flot, in comp. *flot-siere (-smeru), 
floating fat, the scum of a pot (Somner; not 
authenticated) (= Icel. flot, fat, grease, from 
cooked meat, = Sw. floit, grease); lit. that 
which floats, (fleotan (pp.floteii), T&.fleefl, etc., 
float: see fleet 1 , v., and ef. fleet", v. t.] If. See 
float, n. 2. Floating fat; the scum of a pot; 
the scum of broth. [Scotch.] 
As a fumes (furnace) ful nf flu! that upon fyr boyles, 
When brygt brennande brondez are bet ther au-vnder. 
Allileratiee Poems (ed. Morris), ii. 1011. 
flota (flo'ta), n. [Sp., a fleet : see float, v. and n., 
anAfleefl, n.] A commercial fleet ; especially, 
the fleet of Spanish ships which formerly sailed 
every year from Cadiz to Vera Cruz in Mexico, 
to transport to Spain the products of Spanish 
America. 
flotage, . See floatage. 
flotant (flo'tant), a. [Formerly also written 
(accom.) flodiant; < F.flottant, ppr. of flatter, 
float: see float, v.] In her., represented as if 
floating either in the air, as a bird or flag, or in 
the water. As applied to a bird, it is synony- 
mous with disclosed. 
flotation (flo-ta'shon), H. [Formerly also writ- 
ten (aecom!) floatation; < OF. as if "flotation, 
the orig. type ofOF.flotaison, F. dial, flohtison, 
the flooding or irrigation of a meadow, F. flot- 
taison, the line of flotation, water-line, (floter, 
flatter, float : see float. Cf. flotsam, ult. a dou- 
blet of flotation.] I. The act or state of float- 
ing. 
Nor is this individual life of the units provable only 
where free flotation in a liquid allows its signs to be read- 
ily seen. " II. Spencer, Prill, of Sociol., 218. 
The fruit consisted of racemes, or clusters of nutlets, 
which seem to have been provided with broad lateral 
wings for flotation in the air. 
Damson, Geol. Hist, of Plants, p. 133. 
2. The science of floating bodies Plane or line 
Of flotation, the plane or line in which the horizontal 
surface of a fluid cuts a body floating in it: the dividing 
line between the part of a ship or other floating body be- 
low the surface of the water and that above it. In ships 
this line has an intimate relation to their buoyancy and 
equilibrium.- Stable flotation, a phrase applied to that 
position of a floating body in which it is not capable of 
