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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FERD, n.¹, v. Also faird, faerd, fird.

I. n. 1. A journey, voyage; a going (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1914 Angus Gl.) Obs. ‡Comb.: ferdiemeat (Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Sh. Trad. Lore 111), -mate (Sh. 1908 Id. in Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 70); ferdameat (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), ferdimet (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.¹¹ 1951); ferdenmeat (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), ferdemate, ferdamett, far(a)d(a)y maet, food, provisions for a journey or for a long fishing expedition. [′fɛrdɪmæt]Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 593:
I need na aks dee gin dul tak a footh o' ferdamett wi dee.Sh. 1888 Edmonston and Saxby Home of a Naturalist 184:
I wiz for fram we da Oy's ferdémate in a peerie bjödie.Sh. 1931 J. Burgess in Sh. Almanac Companion 187:
Erty Tamsin wis “Judas,” an' kerried da bag wi' da fardy maet.Sh. 1948 New Shetlander No. 8. 10:
A bit o' dried flesh geen me for faraday maet.

¶2. As a curtailed form of ferdiemeat: food, provisions.Sh. 1888 Edmonston and Saxby Home of a Naturalist 186:
We [with] nedder swird Nor faerd nor leicht.

‡II. v. Only in pa.p. ferdet (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), firdit (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), firdet (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), lost, not to be found, quasi gone on a journey.