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What is the difference between fillip and foible?

fillip | foible |

As nouns the difference between fillip and foible

is that fillip is (archaic) a flick; the act of releasing the index finger from the hold of a thumb with a snap while foible is a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.

As a verb fillip

is to strike or project with the nail of a finger snapped from the end of the thumb; flick.

As a adjective foible is

(obsolete) weak; feeble.

fillip

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (archaic) A flick; the act of releasing the index finger from the hold of a thumb with a snap.
  • Something that excites or stimulates.
    • This measure gave a fillip to the housing market.
    This athlete's victory provided a much-needed fillip for national pride.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike or project with the nail of a finger snapped from the end of the thumb; flick.
  • * Shakespeare
    • You fillip me o' the head.
  • To tap or strike smartly.
  • To make a fillip; drive by or as by a fillip; stimulate; excite; whet.
    • The spicy aroma filliped my appetite.
  • * 1851 ,
    • Grand snoozing to-night, maty; fat night for that. I mark this in our old Mogul’s wine; it’s quite as deadening to some as filliping to others.
  • To snap; to project quickly.
  • * Tylor
    • the use of the elastic switch to fillip small missiles with

    foible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Weak; feeble.
    • (Lord Herbert)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.
    • Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.
  • * 1915 ,
    • They made up for the respect with which unconsciously they treated him by laughing at his foibles and lamenting his vices.
  • * 1959 , Meriden Record, " An ounce of prevention", July 24 issue
    • Final fillip in the Vice-President's study has been a boning up]] on Premier Khrushchev's favorite foible , proverbs. The bibulous Russian leader likes to throw out homely [[homily, homilies in his speeches and conversations..
  • (fencing) Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
  • A weakness or failing of character.
  • * 1932 , , by William Floyd
    • Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles , able to redeem mankind by his example.

    Synonyms

    * (a weakness or failing of character) fault

    Related terms

    * feeble