fillip

About 0.18 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun The action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap; a flick.
2. noun A sharp strike or tap made using this action, or by other means.
3. noun Something unimportant, a trifle; also, the brief time it takes to flick one's finger (see noun sense 1); a jiffy.
4. noun Something that excites or stimulates.

   This measure gave a fillip to the housing market.

5. verb To strike, project, or propel with a fillip (that is, a finger released quickly after being pressed against the thumb); to flick.
6. verb To project quickly; to snap.
7. verb To strike or tap smartly.
8. verb To drive as if by a fillip (noun sense 1); to excite, stimulate, whet.

   The spicy aroma filliped my appetite.

Similar words

bonus push impulse kick-start impetus boost whiplash stimulation thrust stimulus

Often followed by

to of from in for by was and with

Word family

filliped filliping fillips