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.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1475-1550
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Fa-men, Fay-men, n. pl. [ME.fomen, ifomenn, OE. *ᵹefāmen.] Foemen, enemies. 1375 Barb. vi. 648.
He of his famen four has slayn 1375 Ib. xvi. 189. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 46.
Fell faymen he left fey vpon the land c1475 Ib. ix. 728.
Ruwan als dang off thar famen doun 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 53.
The dolf-hartit Troianys, That durst nocht … Mach with thar famen in patent bargane 1535 Stewart 49263.
Of his famen so soir he wes adred c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1280.
The Squyer with his birneist brand, Amang his fa-men maid sic hand
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"Fa-men n. pl.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fa_men>
