Word origins

• figuretteA figurine.
• filandersA disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small thread-like worms (probably Capillaria), and of filaments of coagulated blood, stemming from the rupture of a vein.
• filasseVegetable fiber, such as jute or ramie, prepared for manufacture.
• filéA spicy herb made from the dried and ground leaves of the North American sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum) and used in Louisiana Creole cooking.
• filemotSynonym of feuillemorte.
• filet mignonA steak cut of beef taken from the tenderloin, or psoas major, of the steer or heifer.
• fille de joieA female prostitute; a courtesan.
• fille fataleA young femme fatale, one who is a girl rather than a woman.
• film blancA film characterized by an optimistic outlook, contrasting with film noir.
• film d'auteurA film of a movie director or a screenwriter which reflects their artistic personality.
• film noirA film genre characterized by low-key lighting, a bleak urban setting, and corrupt, cynical or desperate characters.
• filmologyA 1950s–60s movement of theoretical study relating to film.
• FilyawA surname from French.
• financièreInvolving a heavy sauce flavored with truffles, mushrooms and Madeira wine, and garnished with one or more of olives, kidneys, quenelles, sweetbreads, livers, and cockscombs.
• fin de sièclePertaining to the close of the 19th century, usually suggesting a literary and artistic climate of modernism, world-weariness, and self-indulgence.
• fine champagneFine French brandy from the Grande Champagne or Petite Champagne winegrowing areas of Cognac.
• FinistèreA cape in Brittany, France.
• FisetteA surname from French.
• fisher catA North American carnivorous mammal (Pekania pennanti, syn. Martes pennanti) of the weasel family.
• fitchySharpened to a point; pointed.
• fixed ideaAn idée fixe, an obsession, a fixation.
• flambéBeing, or having been, flambéed.
• flamboyerAny of various trees in the East and West Indies with brilliant blossoms, probably species of Caesalpinieae, especially of Delonix and Caesalpinia, all of which were formerly in the obsolete genus Poinciana.
• flamicheA French savoury tart made with leeks and cream.
• flamingantA Flemish-language activist.
• FlamingantismThe ideology which supports Flemish autonomy or independence; Flemish nationalism.
• flanconadeA thrust in the side.
• Flandres BayA bay of the Southern Ocean.
• flânerieidling about, dawdling about, loafing about
• flaneuseA female flaneur.
• flasqueflabby
• flatulateTo fart, to emit digestive gases from the anus, especially with accompanying sound and smell.
• flea marketAn outdoor temporary market selling inexpensive antiques, curios, etc.
• flècheAn arrow.
• flèche faîtièreA type of decorated spear used by the Kanak to adorn their rooftops.
• flechetteA small sharp antipersonnel projectile, used as shrapnel, fired from a shotgun, or scattered from an aircraft.
• FleurantA surname from French.
• fleurdeliséSynonym of fleur-de-lysed.
• Fleur de LysA town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• fleur de selFloating salt crystals skimmed from the surface of evaporation ponds, used in cooking.
• fleuretAn ornament resembling a small flower.
• flibustierA French buccaneer; a French pirate in the Americas.
• floating islandAn aggregation of driftwood and roots, or vegetation, capable of bearing soil, which floats on the surface of (bog or lake) water or is floated out from a river delta or similar.
• floating signifierA signifier—that is, a linguistic sign, a label or slogan—with a vague and variable meaning.
• flongA mould, especially one made from papier-mâché, used to create a stereotype.
• FloréalThe eighth month of the French Republican Calendar, from April 20 or 21 to May 19 or 20.
• FlorienneA female given name from French, of rare usage.
• floroonA border worked with flowers.
• fluateA fluoride.
• fluelliteAn orthorhombic-dipyramidal mineral containing aluminum, fluorine, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus.
• flute-douceA kind of recorder (musical instrument).
• foie grasThe fattened liver of geese or ducks, used for gourmet cooking.
• foinA thrust.
• folie à deuxA situation in which two people behave abnormally together in a way that neither of them would individually.
• folie à troisA form of shared psychotic disorder in which three individuals have the same or similar delusional beliefs, usually by transference.
• folie de grandeurdelusion of grandeur
• folie du doutePathological doubting about all affairs of life and indecisiveness in choice situations.
• Fond du LacA city and town, the county seat of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States.
• fondonA large copper vessel used for hot amalgamation.
• fonioDigitaria exilis, a cereal cultivated in western Africa; white fonio
• FontanesA surname from French.
• Fontenay-aux-RosesA town and commune in the Hauts-de-Seine department, France.
• foopahblunder
• ForandA surname from French.
• force majeureAn overwhelming force.
• forcemeatAn emulsion of fat and comminuted meat (which has been subject to puréeing, grinding, sieving, chopping finely) optionally mixed with other flavour carriers and either served up alone or used as a stuffing.
• forcenéRearing on the hind legs. (When another animal has this posture, it is termed rampant.)
• ForgetteA surname from French.
• formansSynonym of formative (“language unit, typically a morph, that has a morphological function”).
• formateurThe chief political negotiator for formal talks that are intended to lead to the formation of a cabinet, particularly in one of the Benelux countries.
• forme frusteAn incomplete form or partial symptom of a disease.
• formeretOne of the half-ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs.
• ForteauA town in Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• ForterieA surname from French.
• fosséA fosse or ditch.
• foudroyantHaving an awesome and overwhelming effect.
• FouesnantA town in Finistère department, Brittany, France.
• fouettéA ballet move in which either the body or the working leg is whipped around forcefully.
• fougasseA type of lattice-shaped bread associated with the area of Provence.
• fougèreOne of the main olfactive families of perfumes, based on the compound coumarin; (countable) a perfume of that family.
• fougèresA town in Ille-et-Vilaine department, Brittany, France.
• FouilletA surname from French.
• FoukaA town in Tipaza province, Algeria.
• foulageA form of massage involving kneading and pressure against the muscles.
• foulardA lightweight silk or silk-and-cotton fabric, often with a printed pattern.
• fourberydeceit, an unprincipled action.
• fourchetteA fork-shaped structure, specifically the fold of skin where the labia minora meet above the perineum (the frenulum labiorum pudendi).
• fourgonA French baggage wagon.
• FourierismThe cooperative socialistic system of Charles Fourier, a Frenchman, who recommended the reorganization of society into small communities, living in common.
• FourrageA surname.
• fourrierA harbinger (someone who provides lodgings).
• fourth wallThe imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
• fracto-Forming terms relating to the fracture or breaking of something.
• fractomorphemeA productive morpheme (one which readily forms new words) which originates as a shortened form of another word.
• fraise des boisThe wild strawberry, the woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca).
• fraisierA kind of sponge cake with strawberries.
• frambaesiayaws
• FrançaisFrench, in the French language.
• FrançaiseA Frenchwoman.
• FrancazalA village in Haute-Garonne department, France.