First. "Two of the first, like coats in heraldry" (M. N. D. iii. 2). The shield was divided in nine different forms; of which the first was an equal division from top to bottom, as when the arms of a man and his wife were united. In this case there was only one crest, that of the husband.
First-born of Egypt (As Y. L. ii. 5). This is supposed to mean high-born persons. But as it only occurs in this place, it may be nothing more than a humorous expression without any definite meaning.
Fives (T. Sh. iii. 2), avives Fr., the strangles in horses; "an inflammation of the kernels, between the chap and the neck of the horse" (Markham, Way to get W. i. 39).
Flap-dragon (L. L. L. v. 1), "a small combustible body set on fire, and put afloat in a glass of liquor" (Nares). "Raisins in hot brandy were the commonest flap-dragons" (Id.). As raisins are not combustible, I rather think it was the liquor that was set on fire, and the feat was getting the flap-dragon out of the flame that enveloped it.
Flaw (2 H. IV. iv. 4, 2 H. VI. iii. 1), a sudden blast of wind. Warburton, who appears to be right, says it was the idea of some philosophers that it was vapour condensed by the cold of night, which, being liberated by the heat of the sun in the morning, caused the flaw or sudden burst of wind.
Flibbertigibbet (Lear, iii. 4). This, and all the succeeding names of fiends in this play, was taken by the poet from Harsnet's Declaration, etc., 1603.
Flights (M. Ado, i. 1), long light-feathered arrows for shooting at a mark.
Flirt-gill (R. and J. ii. 4), also gill-flirt. It is a compound of Gillian, a very common woman's name at the time, and flirt, which was perhaps a corruption of fleer it or fleer at.
Florentius (T. Sh. i. 2), the hero of a tale in Gower's Confessio Amantis, similar to The Wife of Bath's Tale in Chaucer.
Fool's Paradise (R. and J. ii. 4), a state of deceptive happiness. The exact origin of the phrase is not known.