Dictionary

fylfot en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfɪl.fɒt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɪl.fɑt/ (General-American)

Etymology

Uncertain, but likely from Middle English fillen (“to fill”) (from Old English fyllan) + fot (“foot”) (from Old English fōt), in reference to its use as a design to be placed at the bottom of stained-glass windows.

Meanings

1. A swastika, especially one with the arms bent in an anticlockwise direction.
   • Then look at that jade fylfot charm pawned for one-and-three down at the Basin and the use that could have been made of it in the Kharkov 'ritual murder' trial. 1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados:
   • Morley: A year and a half ago I stumbled into your gingerbread office, a lost, frightened soul in terrified flight across the great yawning terror of doubt—a human being, in short!—and you chanted some hagridden formulas and danged some fylfots... 1968, The Discovery of Drama, page 378:
   • There was a coffee tray on top of it, and spilt coffee part hid the fylfot design of the tray. 1982, Anthony Burgess, The End of the World News:

Forms