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: 1499-1560
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Fen, n. [ME. fen, fenn(e, OE. fenn-, fen, ON. fen.]
1. Mire, dirt, foul matter, filth. a1500 Henr. Fab. 227/111.
Rys, gentill jasp, … Out of this fen [v.r. midding] a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 913.
Of his faderis hed strake he, And kest it in till a foule prevé, That was nere by of stynkand fen a1500 Ib. 955. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 517.
Fowmart, fasart, fosterit in filth and fen 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 17.
The vile belleis of thai cursit schrewis Aboundis of fen maist abhomynabill 1535 Stewart 57226.
The loving … , Maid of him self, Stinkis lyke ony fen 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1223.
O filthy flesche, fosterit in fen
2. A marsh. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 444.
I haue … oft fylit my feit in mony foull fen c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 84.
Fy, feyndly front, far fowlar than ane fen 1513 Doug. iii. i. 27.
A weirly cuntre … With large feildis lauborit ful of fens 1513 Ib. vii. Prol. 76.
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"Fen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fen>
