Fig

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fɪɡ/
• Rhymes: -ɪɡ

From Middle English fige, fygge (also fyke, from Old English fīc, see fike), from Anglo-Norman figue, from Old Provencal figa, from Vulgar Latin fīca ("fig"), from Latin fīcus ("fig tree"), from a pre-Indo European language, perhaps Phoenician (pagh, "ripe fig") (compare Classical Hebrew פַּגָּה (paggâ, "early fallen fig"), Classical Syriac ܦܓܐ, dialectal Arabic -, (fiġġ))

Andreas Franz and Wilhelm Schimper, Plant Geography Upon a Physiological Basis, volume 2 (Berlin: Gebrüder Borntraeger, 1902), page 100

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Another root (compare Akkadian (tīʾu, "fig")) was borrowed into Ancient Greek as σῦκον (Boeotian τῦκον (tỹkon)) and Armenian as թուզ; whence English sycophant.

Full definition of fig

Noun

1. A fruit-bearing tree or shrub of the genus Ficus that is native mainly to the tropics.
2. The fruit of the fig tree, pear-shaped and containing many small seeds.
3. A small piece of tobacco.
4. The value of a fig, practically nothing; a fico; a whit.
• ShakespeareI'll pledge you all; and a fig for Peter!

Derived terms

• caprifig
• fig leaf
• figgy
• figtree
• not give a fig

Verb

1. (obsolete) To insult with a fico, or contemptuous motion.
• ShakespeareWhen Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like
  The bragging Spaniard.
2. (obsolete) To put into the head of, as something useless or contemptible.

Variation of fike.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To move suddenly or quickly; rove about.

Alternative forms

• fig.

Noun

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Anagrams

• FGI, GFI, gif, GIF, IGF