Note: In England filberts are usually large hazelnuts, especially the nuts from selected and cultivated trees. The American hazelnuts are of two other species. Filbert gall (Zoöl.), a gall resembling a filbert in form, growing in clusters on grapevines. It is produced by the larva of a gallfly (Cecidomyia).
FILCH
Filch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filched; p. pr. & vb. n. Filching.] Etym:
[Cf. AS. feol to stick to, OHG. felhan, felahan, to hide, Icel. fela,
Goth. filhan to hide, bury, Prov. E. feal to hide slyly, OE. felen.]
Defn: To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little
value); to pilfer.
Fain would they filch that little food away. Dryden.
But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not
enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Shak.
FILCHER
Filch"er, n.
Defn: One who filches; a thief.
FILCHINGLY
Filch"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By pilfering or petty stealing.
FILE File, n. Etym: [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade, Filament, Fillet.]
1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; — in contradistinction to rank, which designates a row of soldiers standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops, which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks.
Note: The number of files in a company describes its width, as the number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in "fours deep" would be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks. Farrow. (b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant. (c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order. It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.