Fillip
[FIL-əp]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Possibly of imitative origin, mid-15th century
1.
Something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity.
2.
(Archaic) A movement made by bending the last joint of the finger against the thumb and suddenly releasing it; a flick of the finger.
Examples of Fillip in a sentence
"With a fillip of two fingers, Serena flicked the acorn across the table."
"Springtime usually provides a fillip to automotive sales."
About Fillip
This word is likely an onomatopoeia — it appeared in the mid-16th century around the same time as “flip” and “flirt.” The noun and verb usages appeared contemporaneously.
Did you Know?
In addition to its use as a noun, the word “fillip” can also be a verb meaning “to flick something with a finger,” “to strike something sharply,” and “to stimulate/urge someone or something.” For example, “The doctor asked the patient a series of questions in an attempt to fillip her memory, but all she could do in response was fillip the table.”
