Fives. An old game at ball, usually played by five on each side. The “court” consists of a roomy space with a high wall at one end.
Fixings. An Americanism for dress ornaments or accessories; house, hotel, or theatre embellishments and decorations generally.
Flamingo. From the bright red colour of this tropical bird.
Flanders. From the native name Vländergau, the country of the Vländer, who from the earliest period of their history were ruled by counts.
Flannelled Fools. An opprobrious epithet bestowed upon the English people on account of their all-pervading sport of cricket by Rudyard Kipling. It gave rise to much acrimony at the time, and tended to lessen his popularity as a writer.
Flash Jewellery. Spurious, not what it pretends to be. Like a flash of fire, its brilliance is only fleeting.
Flask Walk. In this pleasant lane stands the old hostelry “The Flash.”
Fleet Road. All that is left us to remind one of the clear stream which coursed through the meadows down to Holborn (the Old Bourne) and Clerkenwell, emptying itself into the Thames in what is now Bridge Street, Blackfriars.
Fleet Street. The River Fleet, which in old days was navigable from the Thames as far as what is now Ludgate Circus. The old English word Fleot expressed a tidal stream deep enough for vessels to float in.
Fleetwood Road. Here stood Fleetwood House, the residence of Charles Fleetwood, the Parliamentary General.