canals and inland waterways: Ancient works: …with the Trent by the Fosse Dyke (ditch), still in use.

Fosse Way, major Roman road that traversed Britain from southwest to northeast. It ran from the mouth of the River Axe in Devon by Axminster and Ilchester (Lindinae) to Bath (Aquae Sulis) and Cirencester, thence straight for 60 miles (100 km) to High Cross (Venonae), where it intersected Watling

Bob Fosse was an American dancer, choreographer, and director who revolutionized musicals with his distinct style of dance—including his frequent use of props, signature moves, and provocative steps—and was well known for eschewing light comedic story lines for darker and more introspective plots.

Charles de La Fosse was a painter whose decorative historical and allegorical murals, while continuing a variant of the stately French Baroque manner of the 17th century, began to develop a lighter, more brightly coloured style that presaged the Rococo painting of the 18th century. The greatest

Jon Fosse is a Norwegian author of novels, plays, poems, children’s books, and essays who has also worked as an instructor and a translator. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023 “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” The prolific wordsmith has written

Jon Fosse is a Norwegian author of novels, plays, poems, children’s books, and essays who has also worked as an instructor and a translator. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023 “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” The prolific wordsmith has written

Bob Fosse was an American dancer, choreographer, and director who revolutionized musicals with his distinct style of dance—including his frequent use of props, signature moves, and provocative steps—and was well known for eschewing light comedic story lines for darker and more introspective plots.

Margaret Qualley: Early acting roles: …Reinking in the TV miniseries Fosse/Verdon (2019) and memoirist Joanna Rakoff in My Salinger Year (2020).

Steve Fossett was an American businessman and adventurer who set a number of world records, most notably in aviation and sailing. In 2002, he became the first balloonist to circumnavigate the world alone, and in 2005 he completed the first nonstop solo global flight in an airplane. Fossett grew up

Steve Fossett was an American businessman and adventurer who set a number of world records, most notably in aviation and sailing. In 2002, he became the first balloonist to circumnavigate the world alone, and in 2005 he completed the first nonstop solo global flight in an airplane. Fossett grew up

Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who became the world’s leading authority on the mountain gorilla. Fossey trained to become an occupational therapist at San Jose State College and graduated in 1954. She worked in that field for several years at a children’s hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. In

fossil, remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age that has been preserved in Earth’s crust. The complex of data recorded in fossils worldwide—known as the fossil record—is the primary source of information about the history of life on Earth. Only a small fraction of

Fossil Butte National Monument, fossil-rich area of buttes and ridges in southwestern Wyoming, U.S. It is located just west of Kemmerer, about 100 miles (160 km) west-northwest of Rock Springs. The 13-square-mile (34-square-km) monument was established in 1972. The monument preserves Fossil Butte,

coprolite, the fossilized excrement of animals. The English geologist William Buckland coined the term in 1835 after he and fossilist Mary Anning recognized that certain convoluted masses occurring in the Lias rock strata of Gloucestershire and dating from the Early Jurassic Period (200 million to

fossil fuel, any of a class of hydrocarbon-containing materials of biological origin occurring within Earth’s crust that can be used as a source of energy. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils. All contain carbon and were formed as a

fossil record, history of life as documented by fossils, the remains or imprints of organisms from earlier geological periods preserved in sedimentary rock. In a few cases the original substance of the hard parts of the organism is preserved, but more often the original components have been

odontolite, fossil bone or tooth that consists of the phosphate mineral apatite (q.v.) coloured blue by vivianite. It resembles turquoise but may be distinguished

Carl Sternheim: …1915 and performed 1919), and Das Fossil (published 1925 and performed 1923), the four plays forming the Maske Tetralogy. The plays portray the family as self-indulgent social climbers masked by bourgeois propriety. Sternheim’s later plays were less successful. The telegram-like language used by Sternheim in the early plays is a…

Carl Sternheim: …1915 and performed 1919), and Das Fossil (published 1925 and performed 1923), the four plays forming the Maske Tetralogy. The plays portray the family as self-indulgent social climbers masked by bourgeois propriety. Sternheim’s later plays were less successful. The telegram-like language used by Sternheim in the early plays is a…

Samuel Fosso is a Cameroonian photographer who was best known for his “autoportraits,” in which he transformed himself into other people and characters drawn from popular culture and politics. Fosso lived in Nigeria as a child, but the conflict caused by the secession of Biafra in the late 1960s

Björk: Solo albums and acting career: In 2022 Bjӧrk released Fossora, an album of songs inspired by the death of her mother in 2018. Featuring bass clarinet and gabba-techno beats, it received a Grammy Award nomination for best alternative music album. She also appeared in Robert Eggers’s fantasy epic film The Northman (2022) and later…

burrowing, locomotion of a type found in both terrestrial and aquatic animal groups. Some fossorial animals dig short permanent burrows in which they live; others tunnel extensively and nearly continuously. In relatively soft substrates, such as soil, burrowers tend to be limbless (lizards, snakes)

Sergey Volkov: …7, 2011, with American astronaut Michael Fossum and Japanese astronaut Furukawa Satoshi. He and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyayev performed a space walk in which they moved a small crane onto the station’s exterior. He returned to Earth on November 22, 2011.

al-Fusṭāṭ, capital of the province of Egypt during the Muslim caliphates of the Umayyad and Abbasid and succeeding dynasties, until captured by the Fāṭimid general Jawhar in 969. Founded in 641 by the Muslim conqueror of Egypt, ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ, on the east bank of the Nile River, south of modern

saga: Sagas of Icelanders: Fóstbræðra saga (“The Blood-Brothers’ Saga”) describes two contrasting heroes: one a poet and lover, the other a ruthless killer. Egils saga offers a brilliant study of a complex personality—a ruthless Viking who is also a sensitive poet, a rebel against authority from early childhood who…

social service: Child welfare: Institutional and foster care are now provided mainly to children whose home lives have been disrupted, permanently or temporarily, by marital discord, financial hardship, parental irresponsibility, neglect, or abuse. While foster care might be considered preferable because it offers the intimate atmosphere of family living, some children,…

Norman Foster is a British architect known for his sleek modern buildings made of steel and glass. Foster was trained at the University of Manchester (1956–61) in England and Yale University (1961–62) in New Haven, Connecticut. Beginning in 1963 he worked in partnership with Richard and Su Rogers

Abigail Kelley Foster was an American feminist, abolitionist, and lecturer who is remembered as an impassioned speaker for radical reform. Abby Kelley grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was reared a Quaker, attended Quaker schools, and later taught in a Quaker school in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Abigail Kelley Foster was an American feminist, abolitionist, and lecturer who is remembered as an impassioned speaker for radical reform. Abby Kelley grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was reared a Quaker, attended Quaker schools, and later taught in a Quaker school in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Jodie Foster is an American motion-picture actress and director who began her career as a tomboyish and mature child star. Although she demonstrated a flair for comedy, she is best known for her dramatic portrayals of misfit characters set against intimidating challenges in such movies as Taxi

Rube Foster was an American baseball player who gained fame as a pitcher, manager, and owner and as the “father of Black baseball” after founding in 1920 the Negro National League (NNL), the first successful professional league for African American ballplayers. Foster dropped out of school after

Democratic Unionist Party: History: His replacement, Arlene Foster, led the party to another victory in the May 2016 election for the Assembly, in which the DUP held on to all 38 of its seats. Foster remained first minister in another power-sharing government with Sinn Féin.

Alfred Hitchcock: Final productions: …wrongly accused of murder, and Barry Foster played the sadistic “sex killer” who revels in his freedom while the wrong man is being hunted by Scotland Yard. Frenzy was Hitchcock shorn of the big budgets, stars, and media attention that had combined, in the opinion of some, to make him…

Dick Tiger: …was knocked out by American Bob Foster in the fourth round on May 24, 1968. That was the only time in his career that Tiger lost by knockout, and it also was his last championship bout. In his last fight, on July 15, 1970, he lost a 10-round decision to…

Michael Bublé: …Grammy Award-winning producer and arranger David Foster. Foster signed him to his 143 Records label in 2001, the same year that Bublé released his independently produced debut album BaBalu. Two years later Bublé released his first album produced by Foster, Michael Bublé. It earned him Canada’s Juno Award in 2004…

Australian literature: Literature from 1970 to 2000: …writers, Brian Castro, Robert Drewe, David Foster, and Tim Winton similarly emerged as significant writers. Of these Winton and Foster are particularly notable for their volumes Cloudstreet (1991) and The Glade Within the Grove (1996), respectively.

Monument Records: Roy Orbison’s Musical Landmarks: …until he teamed up with Fred Foster did Orbison find a kindred spirit who knew how to showcase his extraordinary talent.

Harold Rudolf Foster was a Canadian-born cartoonist and creator of “Prince Valiant,” a comic strip notable for its fine drawing and authentic historical detail. Before becoming an artist Foster had been an office worker, a boxer, and a gold prospector. In 1921 he moved to Chicago, where he studied

Hannah Webster Foster was an American novelist whose single successful novel, though highly sentimental, broke with some of the conventions of its time and type. Hannah Webster received the genteel education prescribed for young girls of that day. In April 1785 she married the Reverend John Foster,

Harold Rudolf Foster was a Canadian-born cartoonist and creator of “Prince Valiant,” a comic strip notable for its fine drawing and authentic historical detail. Before becoming an artist Foster had been an office worker, a boxer, and a gold prospector. In 1921 he moved to Chicago, where he studied

Jodie Foster is an American motion-picture actress and director who began her career as a tomboyish and mature child star. Although she demonstrated a flair for comedy, she is best known for her dramatic portrayals of misfit characters set against intimidating challenges in such movies as Taxi

John W. Foster was a diplomat and U.S. secretary of state (1892–93) who negotiated an ill-fated treaty for the annexation of Hawaii. After service in the Union army during the Civil War, Foster, a lawyer and newspaper editor in Evansville, Indiana, was active in state Republican affairs. He served

John W. Foster was a diplomat and U.S. secretary of state (1892–93) who negotiated an ill-fated treaty for the annexation of Hawaii. After service in the Union army during the Civil War, Foster, a lawyer and newspaper editor in Evansville, Indiana, was active in state Republican affairs. He served

Maria das Graças Foster is a Brazilian engineer and businesswoman who was the first female CEO (2012–15) of the state-run petroleum corporation Petrobras, one of the largest companies in the world as measured by market valuation. Maria das Graças Silva was born into poverty and was raised by her

Maria das Graças Foster is a Brazilian engineer and businesswoman who was the first female CEO (2012–15) of the state-run petroleum corporation Petrobras, one of the largest companies in the world as measured by market valuation. Maria das Graças Silva was born into poverty and was raised by her

Florence Foster Jenkins was an American amateur soprano, music lover, philanthropist, and socialite who gained fame for her notoriously off-pitch voice. She became a word-of-mouth sensation in the 1940s through her self-funded performances in New York City. Jenkins was born into a wealthy and

Canadian literature: Drama: Norm Foster, with more than 30 light comedies (e.g., The Melville Boys, 1986), has become the country’s most successful dramatist. The voices of other Canadian communities were increasingly heard in the late 20th century: African (George Elliott Clarke, Beatrice Chancy, 1999), South Asian (Rahul Varma,…

Norman Foster was an American film and television director best known for many of the Mr. Moto and Charlie Chan mystery films of the 1930s and ’40s and the popular Disney television shows about frontiersman Davy Crockett in 1954–55. Foster began his show-business career as a stage actor in the

Norman Foster is a British architect known for his sleek modern buildings made of steel and glass. Foster was trained at the University of Manchester (1956–61) in England and Yale University (1961–62) in New Haven, Connecticut. Beginning in 1963 he worked in partnership with Richard and Su Rogers

Norman Foster is a British architect known for his sleek modern buildings made of steel and glass. Foster was trained at the University of Manchester (1956–61) in England and Yale University (1961–62) in New Haven, Connecticut. Beginning in 1963 he worked in partnership with Richard and Su Rogers

Dick Tiger: …was knocked out by American Bob Foster in the fourth round on May 24, 1968. That was the only time in his career that Tiger lost by knockout, and it also was his last championship bout. In his last fight, on July 15, 1970, he lost a 10-round decision to…

Rube Foster was an American baseball player who gained fame as a pitcher, manager, and owner and as the “father of Black baseball” after founding in 1920 the Negro National League (NNL), the first successful professional league for African American ballplayers. Foster dropped out of school after

Sir George Eulas Foster was a Canadian statesman who became prominent as minister of trade and commerce in the government of Sir Robert Laird Borden (1911–20), which gained increasing recognition for Canada in international affairs. Foster founded the National Research Council in Canada and

Sir Michael Foster was an English physiologist and educator who introduced modern methods of teaching biology and physiology that emphasize laboratory training. Foster earned a medical degree from University College, London, in 1859 and was a protégé of the biologist T.H. Huxley. Foster became an

Stephen Foster was an American composer whose popular minstrel songs and sentimental ballads achieved for him an honoured place in the music of the United States. Foster grew up on the urban edge of the Western frontier. Although formally untutored in music, he had a natural musical bent and began

Stephen Foster was an American composer whose popular minstrel songs and sentimental ballads achieved for him an honoured place in the music of the United States. Foster grew up on the urban edge of the Western frontier. Although formally untutored in music, he had a natural musical bent and began

Abigail Kelley Foster: In 1845 she married Stephen S. Foster, a companion on the abolitionist lecture circuit. They continued to travel and lecture together until 1861, although after 1847 Abigail Foster spent much of each year at their Worcester, Massachusetts, farm. During the 1850s she added appeals for temperance and women’s rights…

Sutton Foster is an American actress and singer whose high-spirited charisma and brightly expressive voice brought her fame in Broadway musical theater. She won Tony Awards for her lead roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Anything Goes (2011). Foster grew up in Georgia, where her father

Sutton Foster is an American actress and singer whose high-spirited charisma and brightly expressive voice brought her fame in Broadway musical theater. She won Tony Awards for her lead roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Anything Goes (2011). Foster grew up in Georgia, where her father

Ken Starr: …suicide of White House counsel Vincent Foster, a longtime friend of the Clintons, but the matter was eventually closed. He subsequently was directed to investigate what came to be known as Travelgate, involving the firing of longtime White House workers, and Filegate, pertaining to FBI files on Republicans that were…

William Z. Foster was an American labour agitator and Communist Party leader who ran for the presidency in 1924, 1928, and 1932. A militant union organizer from 1894, Foster joined the Industrial Workers of the World (1909), which aimed at achieving socialism through industry-wide labour

William Z. Foster was an American labour agitator and Communist Party leader who ran for the presidency in 1924, 1928, and 1932. A militant union organizer from 1894, Foster joined the Industrial Workers of the World (1909), which aimed at achieving socialism through industry-wide labour

Lenny Henry: …secure him a role in The Fosters (1976–77), the first British situation comedy with an all-Black cast. He followed this stint with a number of short television appearances that varied from Saturday morning children’s shows (Tiswas) to surreal alternative sitcoms (The Young Ones).

John Fothergill was an English physician who was the first to record coronary arteriosclerosis (hardening of the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle) in association with a case of angina pectoris. Fothergill, a Quaker, studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and later

Fothergilla, genus for about five species of deciduous shrubs of the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae) native to the southeastern United States and sometimes planted as ornamentals for their spring flowering and their fall colour. Their flowers lack petals but produce conspicuous white to yellow

Fothergilla: The leaves of fothergillas turn brilliant shades of orange to crimson in autumn.

Fotoform, group of photographers in Germany after World War II who refined and expounded upon the photographic techniques developed at the Bauhaus, the most advanced school of design in Germany between World Wars I and II, as well as those espoused by the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity)

printing: First generation of phototypesetters: mechanical: …phototypesetter, and its variant the Fotomatic (1963), controlled by a perforated tape, both derived from the Intertype slugcasting machine; the Linofilm (1950), derived from the Linotype; and the Monophoto (1957), derived from the Monotype. Retaining the mechanical limitations of machines intended to shape lead, they could not achieve appreciably higher…

printing: First generation of phototypesetters: mechanical: …this idea resulted in the Fotosetter (1947), a phototypesetter, and its variant the Fotomatic (1963), controlled by a perforated tape, both derived from the Intertype slugcasting machine; the Linofilm (1950), derived from the Linotype; and the Monophoto (1957), derived from the Monotype. Retaining the mechanical limitations of machines intended to…

printing: Electronic phototypesetters: Fototronic-CRT and APS (Alphanumeric photocomposition system) reduce the amount of coded information by interpreting each letter as a series of closely packed adjacent vertical lines whose distinguishing parameters are their height and their position. Vertical scanning on the screen of the photographic output device reproduces…

chess: The pragmatists: …was a depreciation of the bishop: The Hypermoderns had attacked Tarrasch’s high opinion of an unobstructed bishop and said a bishop could profitably be traded for a knight. The post-Soviet players often traded bishop for knight for minimal compensation. They also often exchanged their good bishop, the one less encumbered…

parkour: …leading member of the group, Sébastien Foucan, began to disagree about the direction the new discipline should take, and they both left the group. Foucan introduced the movement in Britain, where it was called freerunning.

St. Charles de Foucauld ; canonized May 15, 2022, feast day December 1) was a French soldier, explorer, and ascetic who dedicated his life to Christian study and prayer in the Sahara in the early 20th century. He was made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 2022. Foucauld came from an

St. Charles de Foucauld ; canonized May 15, 2022, feast day December 1) was a French soldier, explorer, and ascetic who dedicated his life to Christian study and prayer in the Sahara in the early 20th century. He was made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 2022. Foucauld came from an

Foucault pendulum, relatively large mass suspended from a long line mounted so that its perpendicular plane of swing is not confined to a particular direction and, in fact, rotates in relation to the Earth’s surface. In 1851 the French physicist Jean-Bernard-Léon Foucault assembled in Paris the

siderostat: This so-called Foucault siderostat provides a fixed but rotating image. In recent years the Foucault siderostat has been largely supplanted by the heliostat (q.v.), which is a polar siderostat, and by the coelostat (q.v.).

Umberto Eco: …Il pendolo di Foucault (1988; Foucault’s Pendulum).

Léon Foucault was a French physicist whose “Foucault pendulum” provided experimental proof that Earth rotates on its axis. He also introduced and helped develop a technique of measuring the absolute speed of light with extreme accuracy. Foucault was educated for the medical profession, but his

Léon Foucault was a French physicist whose “Foucault pendulum” provided experimental proof that Earth rotates on its axis. He also introduced and helped develop a technique of measuring the absolute speed of light with extreme accuracy. Foucault was educated for the medical profession, but his

Léon Foucault was a French physicist whose “Foucault pendulum” provided experimental proof that Earth rotates on its axis. He also introduced and helped develop a technique of measuring the absolute speed of light with extreme accuracy. Foucault was educated for the medical profession, but his

Michel Foucault was a French philosopher and historian, one of the most influential and controversial scholars of the post-World War II period. The son and grandson of a physician, Michel Foucault was born to a solidly bourgeois family. He resisted what he regarded as the provincialism of his

Michel Foucault was a French philosopher and historian, one of the most influential and controversial scholars of the post-World War II period. The son and grandson of a physician, Michel Foucault was born to a solidly bourgeois family. He resisted what he regarded as the provincialism of his

Jacobus Johannes Fouché was a South African politician who served as president of South Africa (1968–74). Fouché was known to his supporters as “Oom Jim” (“Uncle Jim”). An ardent Afrikaner nationalist, he became a Nationalist Party member of Parliament in 1941. As minister of defense (1959–66), he

Joseph Fouché, duc d’Otrante was a French statesman and organizer of the police, whose efficiency and opportunism enabled him to serve every government from 1792 to 1815. Fouché was educated by the Oratorians at Nantes and Paris but was not ordained a priest. In 1791 the Oratorian order was

Simon Foucher was an ecclesiastic and critical philosopher of the Cartesian school, the first to publish criticisms of the philosophical theories of Nicolas Malebranche. In Critique de la recherche de la vérité (1675; “Critique of the Search for Truth”), Foucher reasoned to contradictory

Nicolas Fouquet was a French finance minister in the early years of the reign of Louis XIV, the last surintendant (as opposed to contrôleur général), whose career ended with his conviction for embezzlement. Born the son of a wealthy shipowner and royal administrator, Fouquet was a supporter of the

Julie Foudy is a retired football (soccer) midfielder who won two FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup championships (1991 and 1999) and two gold medals (1996 and 2004) during her career with the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). As cocaptain of the U.S. squad from

St. Nicholas Day: Traditions: In France, Père Fouettard, who legend holds tried to cook three boys in a barrel of brine, is said to whip naughty children or give them coal. In Germany, Knecht Ruprecht serves as St. Nicholas’s servant and gives children who do not know their prayers sticks, stones,…

fouetté en tournant, (French: “whipped turning”), spectacular turn in ballet, usually performed in series, during which the dancer turns on one foot while making fast outward and inward thrusts of the working leg at each revolution. After a preparatory turn in place on one leg, the dancer bends the

Kenneth Bird was a British cartoonist who, particularly in Punch, created warmhearted social comedies, using little stick figures to convey his point. Originally a civil engineer, Bird was with the Royal Engineers during World War I. He decided on a drawing career after a shell fractured his spine

Fougères, industrial town and tourist centre, Ille-et-Vilaine département, Brittany région, northwestern France, northeast of Rennes. Strikingly situated on a ridge dominating the winding valley of the Nançon River, the town, with its fortress, was of great military importance in medieval times.

Fujita Tsuguharu was a Japanese expatriate painter who applied French oil techniques to Japanese-style paintings. He was a member of the School of Paris, a group of now-famous artists who resided in the Montparnasse district of that city. In 1910 Fujita graduated from what is now the Tokyo

Fujita Tsuguharu was a Japanese expatriate painter who applied French oil techniques to Japanese-style paintings. He was a member of the School of Paris, a group of now-famous artists who resided in the Montparnasse district of that city. In 1910 Fujita graduated from what is now the Tokyo

basketball: Rules: A foul is committed whenever a player makes such contact with an opponent as to put the opponent at a disadvantage; for the 2001–02 season the NBA approved a rule change that eliminated touch fouls, meaning brief contact initiated by a defensive player is allowable if…

baseball: The putout: …when the ball is hit foul. A ball hit foul can count as only the first or second strike with one exception—a ball bunted foul can be called strike three. Umpires signal strikes and putouts with an emphatic movement of the right arm. The strike zone is a prescribed area…

profanity, language that is considered socially offensive due to being vulgar, obscene, or irreverent. The term profanity is often used in a religious sense to refer to language that is blasphemous, sacrilegious, or sometimes merely secular. In a broader sense, profanity is often referred to as

polecat: …pelt, especially that of the European polecat, is called fitch in the fur trade.

Chevy Chase: Hit movies: Caddyshack, Fletch, and National Lampoon’s Vacation: …Hawn in the crime comedy Foul Play. Two years later he had a breakthrough role in the cult classic Caddyshack, a golf comedy that also featured Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Murray. Chase was cast as a wealthy playboy named Ty Webb. The actor later reunited with Hawn on Seems…

Charles Reade: Foul Play (1868), written with Dion Boucicault, revealed the frauds of “coffin ships” (unseaworthy and overloaded ships, often heavily insured by unscrupulous owners) and helped to sway public opinion in favour of the safety measures proposed later by Samuel Plimsoll; like many of Reade’s fictions,…

basketball: U.S. professional basketball: After a…