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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.

Fa, Fay, n. Also: faa, fae, fea, fey. [Northern ME. fa, faa (midl. and southern fo, foo Fo), OE. gefá.] A foe, enemy.The two main types are fa, with pl. fais, fays, and fay, with pl. fayis. The latter is common in both texts of the Brus, but is probably a scribal alteration of the original fa, fais.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 208.
Robert the Bruce that wes his fa Ib. iv. 592.
Feill of thame … War fais to the nobill kyng a1400 Leg. S. ii. 503.
He, that firste wes Cristis fa c1420 Wynt. iii. 364.
Now all thi fays ar thé abowt 1456 Hay I. 187/29.
We have nane samekle a fa, … as a familier inymy a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1303.
Thow sall ȝit ourthraw thi spirituale fa 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 112.
Throw the wapynnys and our fays went we 1567 G. Ball. 100.
Quha will delait, they will mak na refuse Of fa or fule 1585 James VI Ess. 47.
She sprang vp heigh, outfleing euery fa 1622-6 Bisset II. 222/11.
Perchance freindis alsweill as fais(b) a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 343.
That [thing] … That is maste fay to joy & blis c1420 Wynt. iv. 664.
In tyll intent for tyll have bene Revengyd off his fayis kene a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 56.
Gif he be freik on the fold, your freynd or your fay 1531 Bell. Boece II. 6.
Thay knew nocht quhay was freindis or fayis 1571 Sat. P. xxvii. 54.
Ald feyis [v.r. fayis] ar sindle faythfull freindis fund(c) 1456 Hay I. 155/24.
In rychtwis were all that a man may get of his faa is wele wonnyn a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 266.
Na offence he did to freind nor faa 1562-3 Winȝet II. 8/17.
We nameit it … a werklume to strek doun a faa(d) (c 1580) Alex. II. 2799.
Sa dois he nocht that ȝarning hes For to haue victory of his faes 1596 Dalr. I. 151/9.
Now King Eder is maid frie of sa feirful a fae 1622-6 Bisset II.
That na freindis guidis, nor schipis be takin under culloure that they be fæis 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 253.
3/17. A fae to wrong he was c1650 Spalding I. 4.
Taking thair mete and food perforce … fra freindis alssweill as fra thair faes

b. Freq. with the adjs. felloun or fel. 1375 Barb. i. 429.
Hys fadyr ay wes my fay feloune a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 401.
Grant me now werray sicht Of my fel fa c1420 Wynt. v. 5308.
The fals suggestyowne Off the Devill, thare fa fellowne c1450-2 Howlat 746.
The fende is our felloune fa a1500 Doug. K. Hart 463.
Full fayne I wald, no war my felloun fa 1590–1 Crim. Trials I. 234.
And keep me fra that fellon fea