1. n.1 a a soft pear-shaped fruit with many seeds, eaten fresh or dried. b (in full fig-tree) any deciduous tree of the genus Ficus, esp. F. carica, having broad leaves and bearing figs.
2 a valueless thing (don't care a fig for).
Phrases and idioms:
fig-leaf
1. a leaf of a fig-tree.
2 a device for concealing something, esp. the genitals (Gen. 3:7).
Etymology: ME f. OF figue f. Prov. fig(u)a ult. f. L ficus 2. n. & v.
--n.
1. dress or equipment (in full fig).
2 condition or form (in good fig).
--v.tr. (figged, figging)
1. (foll. by out) dress up (a person).
2 (foll. by out, up) make (a horse) lively.
Etymology: var. of obs. feague (v.) f. G fegen: see FAKE(1)