fes

v. i. & t. [ imp. & p. p. Fescued p. pr. & vb. n. Fescuing. ] To use a fescue, or teach with a fescue. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. festu, OF. festu, F. fétu, fr. L. festuca stalk, straw. ] 1. A straw, wire, stick, etc., used chiefly to point out letters to children when learning to read. “Pedantic fescue.” Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

To come under the fescue of an imprimatur. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An instrument for playing on the harp; a plectrum. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The style of a dial. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) A grass of the genus Festuca. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fescue grass (Bot.), a genus of grasses (Festuca) containing several species of importance in agriculture. Festuca ovina is sheep's fescue; F. elatior is meadow fescue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Written also fasels. ] See Phasel. [ Obs. ] May (Georgics).

{ } n. [ OF. fesse, faisse, F. fasce, fr. L. fascia band. See Fascia. ] (Her.) A band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon, and containing in breadth the third part of it; one of the nine honorable ordinaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fess point (Her.), the exact center of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. fessus wearied, fatigued. ] Weariness. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of fess. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Fist. ] The fist. [ Obs. ] Chaucer.

a. [ L. festum holiday, feast. See feast. ] Of or pertaining to a holiday or a feast; joyous; festive. [ 1913 Webster ]

You bless with choicer wine the festal day. Francis. [ 1913 Webster ]