also failsafe, fail safe "safe against failure," 1945, originally in reference to aircraft construction, from fail (v.) + safe (adj.). The novel about a nuclear attack caused by mechanical error is from 1962.
a fail-safe recipe for cheese souffle
a fail-safe device in a nuclear weapon to deactivate it automatically in the event of accident
fagus
Fahrenheit
faience
fail
failing
fail-safe
failure
fain
faineant
faint
faint-hearted
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