Chapter Father Mathew to Fear Fortress of F by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Fatted Calf To kill the fatted calf. To welcome with the best of everything. The phrase is taken from the parable in the third gospel of the prodigal son. (Luke xv. 30.)

Fatua Mulier A law term for a courtesan. Fatuus with jurisconsults means one not in a right mind, incorrigibly foolish.

Fault At fault. Not on the right track; doubtful whether right or wrong. Hounds are at fault when the scent is broken because the fox has jumped upon a wall, crossed a river, cut through a flock of sheep, or doubled like a hare.
    In Geology, the break or displacement of a stratum of rock is called a fault.

Fault (French, faute, Latin, fallo, to fail.)
   For fault of a better (Shakespeare: Merry Wives, i. 4). Having no better.

"I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse." - Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4.

   In fault. To blame.

"Is Antony or we in fault for this?"
Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, iii. 13.

   To a fault: In excess; as, kind to a fault. Excess of every good is more or less evil.
   To find fault. To blame; to express disapprobation.

Faults
   No one is without his faults, i.e. is faultless. "Vitiis nemo sine nascitur. "

Fauna (2 syl.). The animals of a country at any given geological period; so called from the mythological fauns, who were the patrons of wild animals.

"Nor less the place of curious plant he knows -
He both his Flora and his Fauna shows."
Crabbe: Borough.

Faust (1 syl.). The grandest of all Goethe's dramas. Faust makes a compact with Mephistopheles, who on one occasion provides him with a cloak, by means of which he is wafted through the air whithersoever he chooses. "All that is weird, mysterious, and magical groups round this story." An English dramatic version has been made by Bayle Bernard.
   Dr. Faustus, a tragedy by Marlow; Faust and Marguerite, by Boucicault; Faust e Margherito, an opera by Gounod, etc.

Faux-jour (French). A false or contrary light; meaning that a picture is hung so that the light falls on it in the opposite direction to what it ought. The artist has made his light fall in one direction, but it is so hung that the light falls the other way.

Faux Pas A "false step"; a breach of manners or moral conduct. (French.)

Favonius The zephyr or west wind. It means the wind favourable to vegetation.

Favours Ribbons made into a bow; so called from being the favours bestowed by ladies on the successful champions of tournaments. (See True-Love Knot; Curry Favour)

"Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me, and stick it in thy cap." - Shakespeare: Henry V. iv. 7.

Favourite One to whom a lady gives a "favour" or token. The horse which betting men suppose is most likely to come off the winner of a particular race.

Favourites False curls on the temples; a curl of hair on the temples plastered with some cosmetic; whiskers made to meet the mouth.

"Yet tell me, sire, don't you as nice appear
With your false calves, bardash, and fav'rites here?" Mrs. Centlivre.

Fay (See Fairy.)

Faye (1 syl.). The way to Faye (French, "Faie-la-vineuse"). A winding or zigzag manner, like "Crooked Lane at Eastcheap." A person who tries to do something indirectly goes by the pathway to Faye. Faye