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: 1420, 1475-1567
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Fere, Feir, n.2 Also: feire, feyr. [ME. fere, usually in in fere, or ifere, yfere, OE. ᵹefér.] In (or into) fere, in company, together.The plural in feris is used only by Douglas.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 732.
And quhen thai trawaill owcht in fere Thai wyll wyth thame that appyll bere c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v. 338.
For to sper Giff part war left of his men in to fer c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 91.
Full lustily thir ladyes allin fere Enterit within this park 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 249.
The last sax bukis of Virgill all in feris 1513 Ib. i. ii. 31 (R).
Inforce the windes, synk all thare schippis in fere(b) c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii. 184.
Throu out the stour thir twa in feyr ar gane c1475 Ib. iv. 423. a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 218.
Syne all the thre into feir To the fyre gais a1500 Ib. 416.
He saw na thing … , Bot the feildis in feir a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 692.
The quhilkis [signs] sanct Ierome wraite In Jowis bukis as he thaim fand in feire 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 23.
Wyth a braid, to Laocon infeir Thai start atanys 1513 Ib. 914/14.
Set I feil syth, syk twa monethis in feir, wrait neuir a word 1535 Stewart 8755.
The King Corbreid and all his folk in feir, Includit thame within ane stalwart strenth 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 203.
Thairfoir thay mak sa greit vproir, … Determit … To fecht all in to feir c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 147 (M).
Syn followit all hir damysellis in feyr
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"Fere n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fere_n_2>
