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The mechanism for closing the breech of a breech-loading firearm, in artillery consisting principally of the breechblock, obturator, and carrier ring.

Ardent; vehement; zealous. The fervid wishes, holy fires. Parnell. -- Fer"vid*ly, adv. -- Fer"vid*ness, n.

bject or one idea; abject superstition; blind adoration. The real and absolute worship of fire falls into two great divisions, the first belonging rather to fetichism, the second to polytheism proper. Tylor.

A fire kindled in a public place in token of joy; a bonfire; a firing of guns in token of joy.

Consisting of, containing, or resembling, fire; as, the fiery gulf of Etna; a fiery appearance. And fiery billows roll below. I. Watts.

(Metal.), the conversion of cast iron into suitable for puddling, in a hearth or charcoal fire.

The act of disharging firearms.

In the breech mechanism of a firearm, the pin which strikes the head of the cartridge and explodes it.

A firework, made of damp powder, which makes a fizzing or hissing noise when it explodes.

A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash. With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville.

or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike. What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires! Watts. A flaky weight of winter's purest snows. Wordsworth.

A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.

Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.

in, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.

A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.

w thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, It straight takes fire. Addison.

y black, breaking with a conchoidal fracture and sharp edge. It is very hard, and strikes fire with steel.

A hand firearm fitted with a flintlock; esp., the old-fashioned musket of European and other armies.

Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly.

djective; as, the old folks; poor folks. [Colloq.] In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales. Shak.