Synonyms for fig

Grammar : Noun

Spell : fig

Phonetic Transcription : fɪg

Définition of fig

Origin : early 13c., from Old French figue (12c.), from Old Provençal figa, from Vulgar Latin *fica, from Latin ficus "fig tree, fig," from a pre-Indo-European Mediterranean language, possibly a Semitic one (cf. Phoenician pagh "half-ripe fig"). A reborrowing of a word that had been taken directly from Latin as Old English fic.
The insulting sense of the word in Shakespeare, etc. (A fig for ...) is 1570s, in part from fig as "small, valueless thing," but also from Greek and Italian use of their versions of the word as slang for "vulva," apparently because of how a ripe fig looks when split open [Rawson, Weekley]. Giving the fig (French faire la figue, Spanish dar la higa) was an indecent gesture of ancient provenance, made by putting the thumb between two fingers or into the mouth, with the intended effect of the modern gesture of "flipping the bird" (see bird (n.3)). See sycophant. Use of fig leaf in figurative sense of "flimsy disguise" (1550s) is from Gen. iii:7.

As in multiple fruit : noun composite fruit
As in : noun smallest amount

Example sentences :

In his sane moments he did not care a fig for anybody's birthday.
Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke

A fig for Macbeth's philosophy that "blood will have blood."
Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 9, 1870 » by Various

Let them boast of their Moorish gallantry and their infidel marriages—a fig for them!
Extract from : « Gomez Arias » by Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso

But Gervaise ended by not caring a fig for these thwacks, not more than she did for anything else.
Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola

If he be a slave who has gathered, he shall receive a stroke for every grape or fig.
Extract from : « Laws » by Plato

It doesn't matter a fig to me whether you go bankrupt or not.
Extract from : « The Market-Place » by Harold Frederic

At first it amused me; then enraged me; I don't care a fig now.
Extract from : « Secret Memoirs: The Story of Louise, Crown Princess » by Henry W. Fischer

The Dean, no doubt, would have his own lawyer, who would not care a fig for the Marquis.
Extract from : « Is He Popenjoy? » by Anthony Trollope

"A fig for all the hussars in Europe," cries Molly, with indomitable courage.
Extract from : « Molly Bawn » by Margaret Wolfe Hamilton

I will send up your cloak, which is barely bigger than a fig leaf, when I can.
Extract from : « Letters of Edward FitzGerald » by Edward FitzGerald

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019