Also 8 fingerin. [f. FINGER sb. + -LING. Cf. Ger. fingerling glove-finger, thimble [MHG. fingerlinc ring).]

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  † 1.  One of the fingers of a glove; a finger-stall.

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c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 161/2. Fyngyrlynge of a glove, digitabulum.

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1530.  Palsgr., 220/1. Fingerlyng of lether. delot.

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1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn doigtier, a thimble, a fingerling.

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  2.  A very diminutive being; used to translate Ger. Däumerling (Goethe, Faust).

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1835.  Anster, Faustus, II. II. (1887), 128.

        Pigmies, emmets, fingerlings,
And other active little things.

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1867.  Dowden, The Philosophy of Goethe, in Contemporary Review, VI. Sept., 50. Yet more diminutive dwellers are to be seen upon the mountain-side. Thumblings and Fingerlings whom the Pygmies have enslaved.

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  3.  A name for the parr (Salmo salmulus). Cf. BRANDLING 2.

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a. 1705.  Ray. Synop. Method. Piscium (1713), 63. Salmulus, The Samlet Herefordiensibus, Branlin & Fingerin Eboracensibus.

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1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, II. 43. The transverse dusky bars from which this fish has obtained the name of Brandling and Fingerling.

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  attrib.  1888.  Pall Mall G., 7 April, 6/1. A couple of wretched fingerling smolts.

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