~Feathers~, money, wealth; "in full FEATHER," rich. FEATHERS is also a term applied to dress; "in full FEATHER," means very often in full costume. It also means, at times, in high spirits.
~Feed~, a meal, generally a dinner. Originally stable slang, now pretty general.
~Feele~, a daughter, or child.--Corrupted _French_.
~Fellow-commoner~, uncomplimentary epithet used at Cambridge for an empty bottle.
~Felt~, a hat.--_Old term_, in use in the sixteenth century.
~Fence~, a purchaser or receiver of stolen goods; also, the shop or warehouse of a FENCER.--_Old Cant._
~Fen-nightingales~, toads and frogs, from their continued croaking at night.
~Feringee~, a European--that is, a Frank.--_Anglo-Indian._
~Ferricadouzer~, a knock-down blow, a good thrashing. Probably derived, through the _Lingua Franca_, from the _Italian_, "far' cader' douser," to knock down. "Far' cader' morto," is to knock down dead.
~Few~, used to signify the reverse, thus:--"Don't you call this considerably jolly?" "I believe you, my bo-o-oy, A FEW." Sometimes the reply is, "just a FEW." Another expression of the same kind is RATHER, which _see_.
~Fibbing~, a series of blows delivered quickly, and at a short distance.--_Pugilistic._
~Fiddle~, a sharper, "a street mugger." In America, a swindle or an imposture.
~Fiddle~, "to play second FIDDLE," to act subordinately, or follow the lead of another. From the orchestral practice.
~Fiddle-face~, a person with a wizened countenance.
~Fiddle-faddle~, twaddle, or trifling discourse.--_Old Cant._
~Fiddler~, a sharper, a cheat; also a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. On board some ocean steamers the FIDDLER is the capstan-house, the only place on board where passengers are permitted to smoke. The term FIDDLER is easily traceable to the fact that, while the seamen are working the capstan-bars, a man sometimes plays on the fiddle to cheer them at their toil.
~Fiddler~, a sixpence. Fiddler's money is small money; generally from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence.
~Fiddlers' green~, the place where sailors expect to go when they die. It is a place of fiddling, dancing, rum, and tobacco, and is undoubtedly the "Land of Cocaigne," mentioned in mediæval manuscripts. A story is told of a drunken sailor who heard a street preacher threatening all listeners with eternal damnation, and who went up and asked where he (the sailor) was going after death. "To hell, of course," replied the preacher. "No, you lubberly son of a sea-cook!" shouted the seaman, knocking the itinerant down; "I'm going to FIDDLER'S GREEN; and if you say I'm not, I'll throttle you." Under compulsion, the preacher admitted the existence of FIDDLER'S GREEN, _pro tempore_.