%fila%

a. [ Pref. bi- + filar. ] Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar suspension; a bifilar balance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bifilar micrometer (often called
a bifilar), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of which, at least, is movable; -- more commonly called a filar micrometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Ar. ] See Cafila. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖‖ } n. [ Ar. ] A caravan of travelers; a military supply train or government caravan; a string of pack horses. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defilading. ] [ Cf. F. défiler to defile, and défilade act of defiling. See 1st Defile. ] (Mil.) To raise, as a rampart, so as to shelter interior works commanded from some higher point. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from any works which may be erected. Farrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. enfiler to thread, go trough a street or square, rake with shot; pref. en- (L. in) + fil thread. See File a row. ] 1. A line or straight passage, or the position of that which lies in a straight line. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A firing in the direction of the length of a trench, or a line of parapet or troops, etc.; a raking fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enfiladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfilading. ] (Mil.) To pierce, scour, or rake with shot in the direction of the length of, as a work, or a line of troops. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. filum thread. ] Composed of threads. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. filace a file, or thread, on which the records of the courts of justice were strung, F. filasse tow of flax or hemp, fr. L. filum thread. ] (Eng. Law) A former officer in the English Court of Common Pleas; -- so called because he filed the writs on which he made out process. [ Obs. ] Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. filament, fr. L. filum thread. See File a row. ] A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp. (Bot.), the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the character of, or formed by, a filament. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Filament + -oid. ] Like a filament. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. filamenteux. ] Like a thread; consisting of threads or filaments. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A species of kangaroo (Macropus Brunii), inhabiting New Guinea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ F. filandres, fr. L. filum thread. ] (Falconry) A disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small threadlike worms, also of filaments of coagulated blood, from the rupture of a vein; -- called also backworm. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. filum a thread. ] Of or pertaining to a thread or line; characterized by threads stretched across the field of view; as, a filar microscope; a filar micrometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. filariae. [ NL., fr. L. filum a thread. ] (Zool.) a small, slender nematode worm of the family Onchocercidae (Filariidae) of many species, parasitic when adult in various animals, including man. They may live within the blood, or in other bodily fluids, or within tissues or cavities of the body. Infection with such organisms may be transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. L. filum a thread. ] (Zool.) a former genus comprised of certain nematodes, now classed as belonging to several genera within the family Onchocercidae. See Onchocerca and Guinea worm. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. 1. (Zool. & Med.) Of, pertaining to, or caused by, filariæ and allied parasitic worms. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Straight, as if in a line; as, the filarial flight of birds. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ NL. ] 1. (Zool., Med.) the presence of filariae within the body of an organism; infection with filariae. It is mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. PJC ]

2. (Med.) a disease caused by nematodes in the blood or tissues of the body causing blockage of lymphatic vessels. Death of the adult worms may lead to inflammation and permanent fibrosis; the condition may lead to serious symptoms, such as elephantiasis or blindness. See river blindness [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. of or pertaining to family Filariidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family consisting of threadlike roundworms, called filariae.
Syn. -- family Filariidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F., fr. fil thread, L. filum. ] Vegetable fiber, as jute or ramie, prepared for manufacture. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ LL. filatorium place for spinning, fr. filare to spin, fr. L. filum a thread. ] A machine for forming threads. [ Obs. ] W. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. filatura, fr. filare to spin: cf. F. filature. See Filatory. ] 1. A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also, an establishment for reeling silk. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. See Cafila. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Pseudofilari&unr_; [ NL. See Pseudo-, and Filaria. ] (Zool.) One of the two elongated vibratile young formed by fission of the embryo during the development of certain Gregarinæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Uni- + L. filum a thread. ] Having only one thread; involving the use of only one thread, wire, fiber, or the like; as, unifilar suspension. [ 1913 Webster ]

Unifilar magnetometer (Physics), an instrument which consists of a magnetic bar suspended at its center of gravity by a long thread, constituting a delicate means for accurately measuring magnetic intensities, also for determining declinations of the magnetic needle. [ 1913 Webster ]