O.E. feower, from P.Gmc. *petwor- (cf. O.S. fiwar, O.Fris. fiuwer, Frank. fitter-, Du. and Ger. vier, O.N. fjorir, Dan. fire, Sw. fyra), from PIE *qwetwor (cf. Skt. catvarah, Avestan cathwaro, Pers. catvar, Gk. tessares, L. quattuor, Oscan petora, O.C.S. cetyre, Lith. keturi, O.Ir. cethir, Welsh petguar).The phonetic evolution of the Gmc. forms has not been fully explained. Fourteen is O.E. feowertyne. Slang four-eyes "person who wears glasses" first recorded 1874. Four-flusher is 1904, from verb four-flush "to bluff a poker hand, claim a flush with only four cards in the suit" (1896). Four-letter word first attested 1934; four-letter man, however, is recorded from 1923 (as a euphemism for a shit). A four-in-hand (1793) was a carriage with four horses driven by one person; in the sense of "loosely tied necktie" it is attested from 1892. To study The History of the Four Kings (1760, cf. Fr. Livres des Quatre Rois) contains euphemistic slang phrase for "a pack of cards" from the time when card-playing was considered a wicked pastime for students. Slang 4-1-1 is from the telephone number called to get customer information.
Four Oaks, NC (town, FIPS 24520) Location: 35.44771 N, 78.42505 W Population (1990): 1308 (598 housing units) Area: 2.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 27524
Four Seasons, MO Zip code(s): 65049
Four Corners, OR (CDP, FIPS 26750) Location: 44.92900 N, 122.96987 W Population (1990): 12156 (4840 housing units) Area: 7.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Four Bears Village, ND (CDP, FIPS 27950) Location: 47.98936 N, 102.59708 W Population (1990): 309 (87 housing units) Area: 2.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Village of Four Seasons, MO (town, FIPS 76157) Location: 38.19818 N, 92.71545 W Population (1990): 805 (1271 housing units) Area: 11.6 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)
Lakes of the Four Seasons, IN (CDP, FIPS 41530) Location: 41.40860 N, 87.22299 W Population (1990): 6556 (2201 housing units) Area: 6.9 sq km (land), 1.1 sq km (water)
Far"thing\, n. [OE. furthing, AS. fe['o]r[eth]ung, fr. fe['o]r[eth]a fourth, fe['o]r, fe['o]wer, four. See Four.]1. The fourth of a penny; a small copper coin of Great Britain, being a cent in United States currency. 2. A very small quantity or value. [Obs.] In her cup was no farthing seen of grease. --Chaucer. 3. A division of land. [Obs.] Thirty acres make a farthing land; nine farthings a Cornish acre; and four Cornish acres a knight's fee. --R. Carew.
Fir"kin\, n. [From AS. fe['o]wer four (or an allied word, perh. Dutch or Danish) + -kin. See Four.]1. A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons. [Eng.] 2. A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc. [U.S.]
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