F

the sixth letter of the English alphabet, is a labio-dental articulation, formed by the passage of breath between the lower lip and the upper incisive teeth, or between the upper lip and the lower incisive teeth. By most persons it is produced in the former manner. See Principles of Pronunciation, § 71. Its corresponding sonant letter is v, in producing which voice is substituted for breath. The figure of the letter F is the same as that of the Eolic digamma [Ϝ], to which it is also closely related in power. See DIGAMMA. In etymologies, F is convertible with various other letters, especially the labials. In music, F is the fourth tone of the gamut, or model scale. F sharp (F♯) is a tone intermediate between F and G. In chronology, F is one of the seven dominical letters. In heraldry, it denotes the nombril or navel point in an escutcheon.