English Explanatory Dictionary

fig leaf

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A leaf of the fig plant.
  2. A representation of leaf of a fig plant used to cover the genitals of a nude figure in a work of art (alluding to Genesis iii 7, in which Adam and Eve use fig leaves to hide their nakedness).
  3. Anything used to conceal something undesirable or that one does not want to be discovered.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-fig leaf.wav

Word forms

fig leaf fig leaves fig-leaf figleaf

Etymology

From Middle English *figge leef (attested in the plural figge leves), a partial calque of Old English fīclēaf (“fig leaf”). By surface analysis, fig + leaf.

Derived words

figleaf fig-leafed fig-leaf gourd fig-leaf squash fig-leaved
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