[ad. mod. L. fibrilla: see next. Cf. Fr. fibrille.] A small fibre.

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  1.  Phys. The subdivision of a fibre (see FIBRE 2 a) in a nerve, muscle, etc.

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1681.  trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Fibrils, Little small strings of Fibres, or of the Nerves or Veins.

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1713.  Cheselden, Anat., III. xv. (1726), 247. The nervous fibrils probably do not communicate.

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1794.  G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., II. xvii. 286. The corresponding fibrils of the two retinas.

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1805.  Carlisle, in Phil. Trans., XCVI. 8. Three large superficial nerves … give off fibrils at right angles.

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1855.  H. Spencer, Princ. Psychol. (1872), I. I. iii. 53. An extremely delicate fibril less than 1/100 of an inch in length.

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  2.  Bot. The ultimate subdivision of a root.

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1664.  Evelyn, Sylva (1776), 51. Theophrastus, in his third book de Causis, cap. vii. gives us great caution in planting to preserve the roots, and especially the earth adhering to the smallest fibrils.

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1835.  Lindley, Introd. Bot. (1848), I. 237. The minute subdivisions [of the root] have been called radicles … others name them fibrils.

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1860.  Oliver, Less. Bot. (1873), 11. A Root … gives off fibrils irregularly.

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  3.  Something resembling a small fibre.

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1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. xx. Her dark hair curling in fresh fibrils as it gradually dried.

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