Fetial, fē′shal, adj. pertaining to the Roman fetiales, heraldic, ambassadorial.—Also Fē′cial.
Fetich, Fetish, fē′tish, n. an object, either natural or artificial, capable of being appropriated by an individual whose possession of it procures the services of a spirit lodged within it.—ns. Fē′tichism, Fē′tishism, the worship of a fetich: a belief in charms.—adjs. Fetichist′ic, Fetishist′ic. [Fr. fétiche—Port. feitiço, magic: a name given by the Portuguese to the gods of West Africa—Port. feitiço, artificial—L. factitius—facĕre, to make.]
Feticide. See Fœtus.
Fetid, fē′tid, or fet′id, adj. stinking: having a strong offensive odour.—ns. Fē′tidness, Fē′tor, Fœ′tor. [L. fœtidus—fœtēre, to stink.]
Fetlock, fet′lok, n. a tuft of hair that grows behind on horses' feet: the part where this hair grows.—adj. Fet′locked, tied by the fetlock. [History obscure; often explained as compounded of foot and lock (of hair); cf. Ger. fiszloch.]
Fetter, fet′ėr, n. a chain or shackle for the feet: anything that restrains—used chiefly in pl.—v.t. to put fetters on: to restrain.—adjs. Fett′ered, bound by fetters: (zool.) of feet bent backward and apparently unfit for walking; Fett′erless, without fetters, unrestrained.—n. Fett′erlock (her.) a shackle or lock. [A.S. feter—fét, feet, pl. of fót, foot.]
Fettle, fet′l, v.t. (prov.) to arrange, mend.—v.i. to potter fussily about.—n. preparedness, ready condition. [Prob. A.S. fetel, a belt.]
Fetus. See Fœtus.
Feu, fū, n. (Scot.) a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money: a right to the use of land, houses, &c., in perpetuity, for a stipulated annual payment (Feu′-dū′ty).—v.t. to vest in one who undertakes to pay the feu-duty—n. Feu′ar, one who holds real estate in consideration of a payment called feu-duty. [O. Fr. feu. See the variant Fee.]
Feud, fūd, n. a war waged by private individuals, families, or clans against one another on their own account: a bloody strife.—Right of feud, the right to protect one's self and one's kinsmen, and punish injuries. [O. Fr. faide, feide—Low L. faida—Old High Ger. fēhida. See Foe.]