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, 1438-1570
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Febill, Feble, v. Also: feible. [ME. febil, feble, feblie (a 1225), f. Febill,a.]
1. intr. To become feeble. 1375 Barb. ii. 384.
On thaim! on thaim! thai feble fast! c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 971.
Sum feblyt fast, that had feill hurtis thar 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 49.
Thar mychtis and thar strenthis feblit fast
2. tr. To make feeble; to enfeeble. ?1438 Alex. i. 1153.
He the Grecians febillit fast ?1438 Ib. 1644.
The Kingis folk … Febillit with shot richt felly wair 1456 Hay II. 125/16.
This … febleis the mannis corps and lettis degestioun to be perfyte 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 277/2.
Quhen thou felis thi self our stark & wald be feblit thairof c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 3.
I that in heill wes … Am … feblit with infirmite 1531 Bell. Boece I. 42.
Thair is na other way sa plesand to strenth our ennimes, and to febill oure self 1535 Stewart 506.
Mony throw force war feblit in that feild 1570 Satirical Poems xvii. 115.
That schot hes feiblit our manly force and wit
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"Febill v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/febill_v>
