Falding (A.S. feald). A kind of coarse cloth, like frieze.
Faldstool, Faldistory, O. E. A folding-stool, like a modern camp-stool, used in cathedral church services in Saxon times.
Fall or Falling-band. A large collar falling on to the shoulders; 16th and 17th centuries. (See Bands.)
Fallals, O. E. The falling ruffs of a woman’s dress.
False, Her. Said of any charge when its central area is removed; thus an annulet is a “false roundle.”
False Roof, Arch. The space between the ceiling of the garret and the roof.
Falx, R. A scythe, sickle, bill-hook, &c.; any instrument with a curved edge used for cutting grass, wood, or other objects. There were many different kinds, which were called respectively arboraria and sylvatica, denticulata, fænaria or veruculata, vinitoria, vineatica, and putatoria. The term falx was also applied to a falchion strongly curved at the end. Falx supina was a dagger with a keen and curved blade; falx muralis was an instrument employed in warfare, both by sea and land, either to cut the masts and rigging of a vessel, or to sweep the ramparts clear of defenders. [Culter is a knife with one straight edge; falx, one with the edge curved. Hence our falchion, &c.]
Familia, Med. Lat. An old term for a set of chessmen. Among the jewels in the wardrobe-book of Edward I. occur “una familia de ebore, pro ludendo ad scaccarium,” and “una familia pro scaccario de jaspide et crystallo.”
Fig. 302. Feather Fan—Italian.