Fillip
/ˈfɪlɪp/noun
A light flick or tap, especially one made with the finger and thumb; also, a stimulus or encouragement.
Did you know?The word is tied to an old sense of snapping or striking something sharply, and by the 16th century it could already mean a quick mental or emotional boost, not just a physical flick.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
fillipen
“To strike or flick sharply with the finger and thumb”
16th Century
English
fillip
“A smart flick or tap, especially with the fingers”
16th Century
English
fillip
“A stimulus or spur; something that gives a quick boost”
Modern English
English
fillip
“A light flick or tap; an encouragement or stimulus”