fid

¹

[ fid ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. a stout bar of wood or metal placed across a lower spar so as to support a higher one.
2. a stout bar used to hold a running bowsprit in its extended position.
3. a wooden or metal pin for parting strands of a rope.
4. a bar or pin used as a key or toggle.

-fid

²

1. a combining form meaning “divided,” “lobed,” occurring in adjectives borrowed from Latin ( bifid ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( pinnatifid ).

fid.

³

abbreviation for

1. fiduciary.

fid

¹

/ fɪd /

noun

1. a spike for separating strands of rope in splicing
2. a wooden or metal bar for supporting the heel of a topmast

-fid

²

combining form

1. divided into parts or lobes

   bifid

   pinnatifid

Word History and Origins

Origin of fid¹

First recorded in 1605–15; origin uncertain

Origin of fid²

< Latin -fidus divided, equivalent to -fid- (variant stem of findere to split) + -us adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of fid¹

C17: of unknown origin

Origin of fid²

from Latin -fidus , from findere to split