fringe

n. [ OF, fringe, F. frange, prob. fr. L. fimbria fiber, thread, fringe, cf. fibra fiber, E. fiber, fimbriate. ] 1. An ornamental appendage to the border of a piece of stuff, originally consisting of the ends of the warp, projecting beyond the woven fabric; but more commonly made separate and sewed on, consisting sometimes of projecting ends, twisted or plaited together, and sometimes of loose threads of wool, silk, or linen, or narrow strips of leather, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something resembling in any respect a fringe; a line of objects along a border or edge; a border; an edging; a margin; a confine. [ 1913 Webster ]

The confines of grace and the fringes of repentance. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Opt.) One of a number of light or dark bands, produced by the interference of light; a diffraction band; -- called also interference fringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) The peristome or fringelike appendage of the capsules of most mosses. See Peristome. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fringed p. pr. & vb. n. Fringing. ] To adorn the edge of with a fringe or as with a fringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Precipices fringed with grass. Bryant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fringing reef. See Coral reefs, under Coral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Furnished with a fringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fringed lear (Bot.), a leaf edged with soft parallel hairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no fringe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Encircling like a fringe; bordering. [ R. ] “The fringent air.” Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An annual herb having pinnatifid basal leaves and slender racemes of small white flowers followed by one-seeded winged silicles.
Syn. -- lacepod. [ WordNet 1.5 ]