Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fect-, Fek-, Feckless, a. Also: fecles, fecklyse. [f. Feck n.] Ineffective, feeble, weak.Very common in the 17th c. in the form feckless.(a) 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 254/17.
Why sal we think that the blissing … of creatures by ane solemne forme of prayars … suld be fectles? c1590 J. Stewart 3/7.
I haif meikill errit … in electing of ane so small and fectles subiect 1602 Colville Parænese 8.
Yit shuld it be boyth a fectles and confusit work if evry one … should play the architectour or mason 1627 Calderwood VII. 615.
The letter was so generall and fectless, that the provest and the bailiffs refused to assist it with their letter(b) a1605 Montg. Flyt. 69 (H).
Fals fecles foumart, lo heir a defyance Id. Son. lxiv. 14.
It war a fekles fead, Quha docht do nocht bot to detract the deid 1587-99 Hume vi. 124.
I find your facund eloquence Repleate with fekles fantasie 1616 Crim. Trials III. 587.
Remove this stinking pompe … of the Scottis Court, and pride of this hautie, fekles, and impotent commontie 1631 Annandale Corr. 284.
That fekles bulding I haive ther 1655 Brodie Diary 163.
I desird to be humbld under that fecles errand(c) 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 250/1.
We confes sewin sacramentes … not as naiked and feckles singes but as instrumental causes of the … giftes of God c1590 J. Stewart 181/3.
Be feckles tratils of his trifling teils [= tales] 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. vii.
The Lord did closly conuey … Moses, from being the object of such fecklesse ostentation 1649 Bk. Pasquils 154.
Ane frost slaine knight's a feckless thing 1665–7 Lauder Journal 127.
The fellow … replied, ‘the fecklesest calling I ken is my oune’ 1680 Soc. Ant. XLV. 236.
Though I be but feckles and worthiles and unfit for such a workComb. 1656 Baillie III. 313.
A little feckless-like thing in his person