Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - fillip

 I. transitive verb  Etymology: probably of imitative origin  Date: 15th century  1.  a. to make a ~ing motion with  b. to strike or tap with a ~ ~ed him on the nose  2. to project quickly by or as if by a ~ ~ crumbs off the table  3. stimulate with this to ~ his spirits — Robert Westerby  II. noun  Date: 1519  1.  a. a blow or gesture made by the sudden forcible straightening of a finger curled up against the thumb  b. a short sharp blow ; buffet  2. something tending to arouse or excite: as  a. stimulus just the ~ my confidence needed lent a ~ of danger to the sport  b. a trivial addition ; embellishment showy ~s of language  c. a significant and often unexpected development ; wrinkle plot twists and ~s