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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1375-1627

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Fere, Feir, n.1 Also: fer, feyr, feir(e, feer, pheere, pheare. [ME. fere, ONhb. fœ́ra, OE. ᵹeféra.]

1. A companion, comrade.(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 86.
His twa men bad he than in hy Ga to thair feris to rest and ly
1375 Ib. 269.
Hym ane, bot fer
a1400 Legends of the Saints ii. 2.
Paule, that was Peteris fere
a1400 Ib. 323.
The [twa] knychttis … and thar thred fer
14.. Acts I. 26/2.
The burges sal clenge him with sex handis of burges … and he agaynis the burges … with als mony feris til hym
c1420 Wynt. ii. 1044.
Tantalus that wes as fere Tyll goddys, and alye nere
c1420 Ib. viii. 1548.
Waltyr and twa sqwyerys, That in that slauchtyr ware wyth hym feris
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 915.
The Scottis thaim dantyt swa, Nayn Inglisman durst fra his feris ga
c1500 Crying of Play 145.
I and my thre feres … Weilfaire, wantones, & play
1513 Doug. i. iv. 70.
O ȝe my feris and deir frendis
1513 Ib. v. iv. 54; etc.
Mynestheus gan hys feris exhort and call
1533 Boece iii. xvii. 116.
Quhen thevantgarde … war ourethrawin thare feris … soneȝit nocht to fecht
transf. 1513 Doug. x. xii. 56.
The bustuus swyne … Quhen that he is betrappyt fra his feris … Standis at the bay
(b) c1450-2 Howlat ii.
Throw thir cliftis so cleire Withoutin fallowe or feire I raikit
c1450-2 Ib. 962.
Pryde neuer ȝit left His feir but a fall
1513 Doug. v. i. 27.
Commandis he euery feir Do red thar takillis, and stand hard by thar geir
1513 Ib. x. xi. 4.
O thou, my systir german and my feir
1535 Stewart 23693.
All his feiris war slane euirilk one
1535 Ib. 38574.
Few feiris with him that tyme he hed
c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 79.
The ane maid not so merie cheir, As his fellow, at that time was his feir
a1568 Scott ii. 106.
Thay band vp kyndnes in that toun, Nane fra his feir to foche
1626 Garden Worthies 78.
His feer in fight … In everie battell, bargane, & debeat

b. A mate or spouse.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 209.
Than suld I haif a fresch feir to fang in mynn armes
1535 Stewart 17819.
His onlie child and eik his dochter deir, In mariage he hes tane to his feir
a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xvi. 43.
Sen that ȝour quein hes chosin hir ane feir
1567 Sempill Sat. P. iii. 38.
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France Off royall bluid, to fang to be hir feir
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xxxviii. 21.
The turtill trew … having loist hir feir
1622 Fugitive Poetry II. iv. 3/13.
Like two turtles then, thou faithfull to thy pheere, and he [etc.]
a1627 Craig v. 9.
Or put case thy dame deare Hath chosen a new pheare

2. An opponent.1513 Doug. x. xii. 115.
To the erth ourthrawyn he has his feir

b. A match or equal.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 94.
This awfull beist … , of fassoun fair, but feir
a1568 Scott xvii. 9.
Dame Natur, … That formit hes this flour so fair but feir
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xvi. 11.
Ane Heroid rang into thay ȝeiris, … Now he has ane thowsand feiris
a1585 Ib. xlviii. 64.
Estemed … far suetar & metar to haue bein Paris feir

13077

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