1. A narrow strip of ribbon or similar material, often worn as a headband.
2. also fi·let (fĭ-lā', fĭl'ā')
   1. A strip or compact piece of boneless meat or fish, especially the beef tenderloin.
   2. A boneless strip of meat rolled and tied, as for roasting.
3. Architecture.
   1. A thin flat molding used as separation between or ornamentation for larger moldings.
   2. A ridge between the indentations of a fluted column.
4. A narrow decorative line impressed onto the cover of a book.
5. Heraldry. A narrow horizontal band placed in the lower fourth area of the chief.
6. Anatomy. A loop-shaped band of fibers, such as the lemniscus.

1. To bind or decorate with or as if with a fillet.
2. also fi·let (fĭ-lā', fĭl'ā') To slice, bone, or make into fillets.

[Middle English filet, from Old French, diminutive of fil, thread, from Latin fīlum.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.