Message #50042

[Bianca]

F




fiducial line (or ~ edge): (pron. fid-oo-shal) the edge of an index plate or pointer against which a scale is read.

filem: an old term for a plumbline, particularly on a card dial, to show the vertical.

First point of Aries: see the definition for equinoxes. Note that, because of the precession of the equinoxes, this point currently lies in the constellation of Pisces.

fleur-de-lis {fleur-de-lys}: an heraldic symbol of a stylised Madonna Lily, composed of three petals bound together near their bases. Often used on dials to denote the half-hour lines.


furniture: all features on a dial plate other than the hour lines and their numerals are referred to as dial ~. This may include declination lines, compass rose, EoT graphs or tables, mottoes etc. Other common furniture includes: date, maker's and/or benefactor's name, coats of arms, and latitude and (rarer) longitude. See Figure 1.