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.
Fang, n. [ME. (a 1400) and OE. fang, ON. fang. Not common in Eng. before the 17th c.]
1. A capture or catch; anything seized or taken; a prey or booty.a1400 Leg. S. xl. 1098.
The forrouris … thar abad nocht ful lang, Bot hame blyth went of that fang a1500 Henr. Fab. 2886.
Syne to the land he flew Fane of that fang c1475 Wall. xi. 1219.
To London with him Clyffurd and Wallang gais; Quhar king Eduuard was rycht fayn off that fang c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxviii. 15.
The mercifull Lord … maid him [Lucifer] for to felȝe of that fang 1535 Stewart 48888.
King Edward … had nocht bene lang, Had he thame gottin all into ane fang, To deill with him 1540 Lynd. Sat. 410 (B).
Ȝe, of this fang, schir, we ar fane 1572 Sat. P. xxxviii. 35.
As the fals fowler, his fang for to get, Deuoiris the pure volatill he wylis to the nettransf. 1535 Stewart 14656.
The Britis fled, and wes fane of that fang To leif the Romanis in the thickest thrang
b. The booty or plunder taken by a thief. Esp. in the phrase with the (ane, his, etc.) fang.1589 Reg. Privy C. IV. 357.
Giff ony brokin men of that … surename … passis uith thair fang and foull hand to the montanis 1594 Misc. Spalding C. II. 127.
Thow are indytit … for the taking of Alexander Maill with ane fang, by an commissioun 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Infangthefe.
All thieues … quha ar fugitiue and taken … with the fange, that is, hand haveand, and back-bearand 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 119.
James Kolo hes stollin ane sark … and tane be the fang be the fold and delyuerit to the awner 1606 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 40.
Thow ar presentlie chalingsit and tein with twa stollin scheip … now lyand besyd thé as thy fang 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 26.
He … was apprehended with a fang of some stollin hors and was warded 1637 Banff Ann. I. 78.
Certane wther geir, all fund with … searching, and heir presentit with thé as ane fang 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. ii. § 1.
Wherever a thief is taken with a fang, he may be hang'd
c. In the fang, in the act of stealing.1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II. 302.
They were taken … in the fang and with the cloaths and money they had taken 1694 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 46.
Allthoughe the theif be takine in the fang, the poor man is forced to lett him pass for want of justice
2. A rope for steadying the gaff of a sail.1513 Doug. v. xiv. 9.
Now the lie scheit. and now the luf, thai slak, Set in a fang, and threw the ra abak
