Fillip

This is another word that I found in Richard Dawkins' new book, The God Delusion. I am nearly finished with this book, so I will probably have a new word from a new book for you tomorrow.

fillip (FIL-uhp) [Origin: 1425-75; late ME philippe to make a signal or sound with thumb and right forefinger; expressive word of uncertain origin]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike with the nail of a finger snapped from the end of the thumb.
2. to tap or strike smartly.
3. to drive by or as by a fillip: Anticipation filliped his passion.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a fillip with the fingers.

noun

1. an act or instance of filliping; a smart tap or stroke.
2. anything that tends to rouse, excite, or revive; a stimulus: Praise is an excellent fillip for waning ambition.

Usage: He has no truck with them: they don't contribute even a minor fillip to his numerical estimate of God's likelihood.

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