fillip

Meanings

Noun

• The action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap; a flick.
• A sharp strike or tap made using this action, or by other means.
• Something unimportant, a trifle; also, the brief time it takes to flick one's finger (see noun sense 1); a jiffy.
• Something that excites or stimulates.

Verb

• To strike, project, or propel with a fillip (that is, a finger released quickly after being pressed against the thumb); to flick.
• To project quickly; to snap.
• To strike or tap smartly.
• To drive as if by a fillip (noun sense 1); to excite, stimulate, whet.
• To make a fillip (noun sense 1) (with the fingers).

Origin

• From Middle English filippen, philippe; further Unknown, but probably imitative. It is not clear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or vice versa.