Fig sb.¹

Forms: 3–5 fige, 4–6 fyg(g(e, (4 fijg), 5–8 figg(e, 6–9 Sc. and 9 dial. feg, 9 dial. vig, 5– fig. [a. OF. fige, figue, ad. Prov. figa, figua = Sp. higa (obs. rare), It. fica (rare):—popular Lat. *fīca fig, f. L. fīcus (u-stem) fig-tree, fig. The L. fīcus was taken into OE. as flc (see FIKE sb.¹) and was represented directly in OF. by fi (= It. fico, Sp. higo, Pg. figo), and *fīca by fie.]

  1.  The fruit of the fig-tree or Ficus, esp. the fruit of the Ficus carica. † Figs of Pharaoh: the fruit of the Sycamore Fig (Ficus Sycomorus).

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 150. Swete frut, þet me clepeð figes.

c. 1325.  Coer de L., 1549.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 29. Ne on croked kene þorne · kynde fygys wexe.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), v. 50. Fyge trees þat beren no leves but fyges vpon the smale braunches, & men clepen hem Figes of PHAROON.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks. 15. An sethe fygys in Wyne, & grynde hem, & draw hem þorw a straynoure.

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. 573.

1671.  Salmon, Syn. Med., III. lxxxii. 713. Apply a Cataplasm of Figgs and Raisons stoned.

1730–46.  Thomson, Autumn, 676.

1801.  Southey, Thalaba, II. xxxiii.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., I. II. 552.

  b.  FIG-TREE. Any tree of the genus Ficus, esp. Ficus carica. Indian Fig: the Banyan (F. indica), or the Pipal (F. religiosa).

1382.  Wyclif, Num. xx. 5. The whiche ne fige getith, ne vynes, ne powmgarnettis.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 1364.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 159. Fygge, or fyge tre. Ficus.

1604.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 222. Figs and Mulberries will be propagated by their Suckers, Cuttings, and Layers.

1763.  Churchill, Gotham, I.

1860.  Delamer, The Kitchen Garden, 150. The Fig—Ficus carica.—A tree endowed with great tenacity of life, which, after being maimed, ill-treated, frost-bitten, or burnt, will spring up again from the crown of the root even years after it has been supposed quite dead.

  c.  In the East and West Indies popularly applied (like the corresponding words in Fr., Sp., and Pg.), to the Banana, also to the Cochineal Cactus.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., ix. 22. Many sorts of fruites: that is to saye, Pomegranets, Figges of the Indias, Orenges both sweete and sower, Lymons, and Cidrons, and in the same are manye excellent good waters.

1700.  S. L., trans. C. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 31. Pisang Figgs, which are a long kind of Figg.

1712.  trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 17. The Indian Fig, which is call’d Jamacan; he says it is the same Plant that in New Spain produces and bears the Cochineal.

1794.  [see COCHINEAL 2].

  † 2.  A poisoned fig used as a secret way of destroying an obnoxious person. Often Fig of Spain, Spanish, Italian fig. Obs.

c. 1589.  Theses Martinianæ, 21. Have you given him an Italian figge?

1616.  R. C., Times’ Whistle, iii. 1150.

16[?].  North, Theret’s Lives (1657), 45. Tamberlain (on purpose to usurp his Kingdom) did cause a Fig to be given him, and after his death married his Widow.

1670.  G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. I. 233. Some report he was poyson’d with an Italian Fig.

1691.  Bethel, The Providences of God, 33. He that is not ignorant of their murdering Doctrine and Practices, in case of Disobedience, durst not have disobeyed for fear of a Dose, or a Fig.

  3.  As the name of a disease, from the resemblance in shape. † a. In human beings: The disease Ficus, or the piles. Also pl. Obs.

14[?].  Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 707. Hic figus, the fyge.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 130/1. Þe Figes, quidam morbus, ficus.

c. 1550.  H. Llwyd, The Treasury of Health (1585), M ij. It is good if the fygge blede.

  b.  Farriery. An excrescence on the frog of a horse’s foot, somewhat resembling a fig.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 414. Of the Figge. A Horse having receiued any hurt, as before is said, by nail, bone, splent, or stone, or otherwise in the sole of his foot, and not be well dressed and perfectly cured, there will grow in that place a certain superfluous piece of flesh, like a Figge.

1616.  Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 142. You must pare the hoofe … betwixt the sole of the foot and the figge.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Fig in the manege, is a sort of wart on the frush and sometimes all over the body of a horse.

1823.  Crabb, Technol. Dict, Fig (Vet.) a spongy excrescence which grows out on the feet of some horses.

  4.  As a type of anything small, valueless, or contemptible; also, † a dried fig; a fig’s end. In phrases: † Never a fig = not at all; (to † bid, care, give) a fig, or fig’s end for; to mind, value (a person or thing), be worth a fig or fig’s end.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12206. He fortherit neuer a fyge with his fight ȝet.

c. 1450.  Crt. of Love, xcviii.

1571.  Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 115. If hee threaten as an enemie, a figge for his Monarchy.

a. 1572.  Knox, Hist. Ref., Wks. (1846), I. 173. Tush, a feg for the fead, and a buttoun for the braggyne of all the heretikis and thare assistance in Scotland.

1600.  Rowlands, Let. Humours Blood, i. 7.

1632.  Sherwood, s.v. Figge, Not to care a figge for one, faire la figue à.

1634.  Withals, Dict., 557. Fumi umbra non emerim, I will not give a fig’s end for it.

1710.  Brit. Apollo, III. 3/1. No Man Does care a Fig for such a Woman.

1718.  Vanbr. & Cib., Prov. Husb., II. i. 49. La. Wrong. Pshah! a Fig for his Mony! you have so many Projects of late about Mony, since you are a Parliament-Man.

1840.  Thackeray, Catherine, vii. We have it from nature, and so a fig for Miss Edgeworth. Ibid. (1852), Esmond, III. ii. A man gets his own experience about women, and will take nobody’s hearsay; nor, indeed, is the young fellow worth a fig that would.

1855.  Robinson, Whitby Gloss., A Feg’s end for it.

1887.  Catherine Barter, Poor Nellie (1888), 185. I’d lay ten to one Charlie does not care a fig about it.

  † b.  Used contemptuously; so Fig’s end used as a substitute for some other word. Also as an exclamation. Cf. Fiddlestick(s! Fiddlestick’s end! Obs.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 322. Iago. Vertue? A figge, ’tis in our selues that we are thus, or thus. Ibid., II. i. 256. Rodo. I cannot beleeue that in her, she’s full of most bless’d condition. Iago. Bless’d figges-end.

1752.  Foote, Taste, II. Wks. 1799, I. 23. Lord. … This is Mynheer Baron de ——. Lady. Mynheer Figs-end. Can’t I believe my own Eyes?

  5.  dial. A raisin.

1787.  Grose, Prov. Gloss., Figs, raisins, W.

1880.  in W. Cornw. Gloss.

1882.  Hampsh. Gloss.

  6.  slang.

1798.  Edgeworth, Pract. Educ., I. 315. Coiners give regular mercantile names to the different branches of their trade, and to the various kinds of false money which they circulate; such as flats, or figs, or figthings.

  7.  Soap-making. (See quots. 1)

1885.  W. L. Carpenter, Manuf. Soap, i. 12. The appearances known as ‘grain’ or ‘strike’ in a hard soap, and ‘fig’ in a soft soap, are due to the crystalline character of soap, and are largely influenced by the quantity of water present. Ibid., vi. 161. To produce a grained soft-soap (or ‘fig’), it is essential to use pure potash lye, and to employ some hard fat.

  8.  Fig (of tobacco): a small piece. Cf. FID.

1837–40.  Haliburton, Clockm. (1862), 187. How are you off for tobacco? said Mr. Slick. Grand, said he, got half a fig left yet.

1893.  Mrs. C. Praed, Outlaw & Lawmaker, I. 103. Running round to the store for a fig of tobacco, the purchase money agreed upon for the dilly-bag.

  9.  attrib. and Comb. a. simple attrib., as fig-box, -drum, -juice, -plaster, -skin, -tart, -wasp, -wood, -yard; fig-like adj. b. objective, as fig-gatherer, -lover, -seller.

1865.  Fraser’s Mag., LXXII. Dec., 724/2. The one man of the company set his foot upon the old *fig box: and one foot was speedily made resplendent.

1864.  Thoreau, Cape Cod, x. (1894), 324. I see a great many barrels and *fig-drums,—piles of wood for umbrella-sticks,—blocks of granite and ice,—great heaps of goods, and the means of packing and conveying them, much wrapping-paper and twine,—many crates and hogsheads and trucks,—and that is Boston.

1552.  Huloet, *Figge gatherer, ficetor.

1853.  Hickie, trans. Aristoph. (1872), II. 637. Pound together garlic with *fig-juice and put in Laconian spurge, and anoint your eye-lids with it at night.

1845.  Lindley, Sch. Bot., iv. (1858), 28 b. Ranunculaceæ Ficaria (Lesser Celandine, Pilewort)…. The roots have long *fig-like fibres.

1552.  Huloet, *Figge louer ficetor.

1884.  Browning, Ferishtah (1885), 56.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 129/2. A *Fige celler, ficarius.

1855.  Browning, Fra Lippo, 85.

1552.  Huloet, *Figge tartes, collybia.

1883.  G. Allen, in Knowlege, 3 Aug., 66/1. The *fig-wasps lay their eggs in the fruit of the caprifico, and there the young hatch out.

1875.  Pollen, Anc. & Mod. Furn., 33. *Figwood, willow, plane, elm, ash, mulberry, cherry, cork wood, were amongst the materials for the bed or substance on which to lay such work.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 210/29. The *Fygyeard, ficetum.

1874.  Farrar, Christ, 55. Winding thro’ the rich fig-yards and olive-groves that fill the valleys round El Jîb.

  10.  Special comb., as fig-apple, a kind of apple (see quot.); fig-banana, a small variety of the banana common in the West Indies (Cent. Dict.); fig-bean, a name for several species of Lupinus; fig-bird, (a) = BECCAFICO; (b) see quot. 1854; fig-blue, soluble blue (Cent. Dict.); fig-cake (see quot. 1858); fig-dust, finely ground oatmeal, used as food for caged birds (Cent. Dict.); fig-eater, (a) one who eats figs; (b) = BECCAFICO; fig-fauns = L. fauni ficarii (see Forcellini s.v. ficarius); fig-finch = BECCAFICO; fig-flower, a fig of the first crop; fig-frail, a frail or basket of figs (see FRAIL sb.); fig-gnat, a gnat, Culex ficarius, injurious to the fig; fig-marigold, a name given to several species of the genus Mesembrianthemum; fig-pecker = BECCAFICO; fig-peepul, the Indian Fig (see above, sense 1 b); fig-shell, a shell somewhat resembling a fig; fig-sue dial., a posset of blead, figs, and ale; fig-Sunday dial., Palm Sunday; fig-water, a decoction of figs. Also FIG-LEAF, -THEE, -WORT.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 541. The *Fig-apple is also newly propagated, the Tree yielding no Blossoms as is usual with other Apple Trees, nor hath the Fruit in it any Core or Kernel.

1657.  W. Coles, Adam in Eden, ccxii. 333. In English, they are usually called Lupines after the Latin Name, yet some call them *Fig-beanes after the Dutch name, because they are flat and round as a Fig that is pressed.

1878–86.  Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Fig-Bean.

1576.  Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 105. Such Birds as bestirre and much exercise themselves with flying … *Figgebirds.

1854.  J. W. Warter, Last of Old Squires, xiii. 138. The chiff-chaffs; one of which Sussex people call the fig-bird.

1837.  C. Wheelwright, trans. Aristophanes, II. 29.

1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Fig-cake, a preparation of figs and almonds, worked up into a hard paste, and pressed into round cakes like small cheeses, which is vended about the streets.

1552.  Huloet, *Figge eater, ficarius.

1678.  Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 216. The Beccafigo or Fig-eater.

1750.  Bible (Douay), Jer. l. 39. Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the *fig-fauns, and ostriches shall dwell therin.

1655.  Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv., xviii. 162. It is great pity of the Loss of Asellius the Sabin’s Book written Dialogue-ways betwixt the *Fig-finch, the Thrush and the Oisters.

1719.  London & Wise, The Complete Gard’ner, V. ii. 94. Figs bear twice a year, viz. first in July and August, and are usually call’d *Fig-Flowers; these are worth little, because they have gone through all the Cold, and all the Rain in the Spring, which spoils their delicious and excellent Taste.

1607.  Middleton, Five Gallants, IV. v. Upon paths made of *fig-frails.

1658.  Rowland, Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 954. Culex ficarius, i. e. *Fig Gnat, not because it comes indeed from the fig-tree, but because it is fed and sustained by its fruit.

1731.  Medley, Kolben’s Cape G. Hope, II. 255. African *Fig-Marygold with a long triangular leaf and a flesh coloured flower.

1881.  E. Houle, Seven Yrs. in S. Africa, I. i. 16. Fig-marigolds of various kinds are especially prominent.

1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 267. The Ficedula or *fig-pecker, called hy the Italian Beccafico, because it feeds most on fig-trees, is a Bird which at this day the Italians esteem one of the greatest rarities they can put into a bisk or ollio.

1864.  A. Y. Kirwan, Host & Guest, i. 2. Several species of dates, fig-peckers, roebuck, and wild boar.

1859.  J. Lang, Wand. India, 303. Not only were there apricot, walnut, rhododendrons, oaks, hollies, and other trees of the higher altitudes, but also the tamarind, the *fig-peepul, the pomegranate, and others of the plains.

1752.  Sir J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 151. The *Fig-shell, with the depressed clavicle.

1888.  Riverside Nat. Hist., I. 352. The species of Ficula are known from their shape as fig or pear shells.

1851.  Cumbrld. Gloss., *Fig-Sue, bread and figs boiled in ale.

1850.  N. & Q., 1st Ser. II. 68/2. *Fig Sunday.

1747.  Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. (1861), II. 480. He was two days so bad he could neither swallow, nor speak to be understood; but *fig-water has cured him.