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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FEGS, n., int. Also faigs; faiks, faix, fakes (mostly s.Sc. and Uls.); faags (Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums vii.), faggs; †faik, †fecks, †feggs, †figs, †feg, and full forms †faikins (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.), †feggins (n.Sc. Ib.). [fɛgz; fe:gz; fe:ks]

I. n. A shortened form of faikins (Eng. fay, faith + kins) obs. or dial. in Eng., only used in exclamations with by; my (Gen.Sc.), guid (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Abd.²⁷ 1951), i(n) (Dmf. 1825 Jam., in faik), o'; upon my (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 202) to express emphatic assertion or surprise.Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Jnl. from London (1755) 15:
Guid feggs I wis fley'd that she had taen the wytenon-fa.Abd. 1813 W. Beattie Parings 9:
An' aunty's whisky, by my fakes, Is nae a sham.Dmf. 1822 A. Cunningham Trad. Tales II. 43:
A gallant young lad, quo' I, by my feg, He's welcome here to wooe.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Miscellaneous Pieces 96:
And he wha loups highest in faikins, Shall hae the right-han' o' the reel.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
My faiks. A minced oath, signifying by my faith.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 117:
He raise on feet an hans — gid fegs — Maist like a baest on fower legs.Ags. 1898 A. H. Rea Divot Dyke 74:
By fegs, I'll hae that troot.Lnk. 1928 W. C. Fraser Yelpin' Stane 38:
My faigs! they'll set off the kitchen dresser; that will they.

II. int. Used absol. with the same force as I. = indeed, truly, faith! Gen.Sc.Sc. 1752 Scotland's Glory 65:
And fegs and 'aith is nought but faith.Ayr. 1786 Burns What ails ye now v.:
But, fegs! the Session says I maun Gae fa' upon' anither plan.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 166:
For faix! should e'er a faeman daur To drive a nail into her timmer.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 100:
Faigs thu gae me sic a f'are.Ags. 1891 Barrie Little Minister viii.:
“Tell me where you got the cloak.” “Na, faggs,” replied the gypsy.Sc. 1925 “H. M'Diarmid” Sangschaw 22:
Fegs, God's no blate gin he stirs up The men o' Crowdieknowe!wm.Sc. 1954 Robin Jenkins The Thistle and the Grail (1994) 5:
"Fegs," piped old Tamas Dougary, frail and saintlike with his wispy white beard and mild, purblind eyes, "it would provoke a saint to swear." m.Sc. 1982 Douglas Fraser in Hamish Brown Poems of the Scottish Hills 8:
The flush upon my broo.
And, fegs, it's lang sin' lass or sang
Has gart me catch my breith. m.Sc. 1998 Lillias Forbes Turning a Fresh Eye 6:
Fegs, I'm owerlanesomelike the nicht
I'd raise a tune?
But frae Ruberslaw tae Warbla Knowe
Oor trysting days are dune.