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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.

Fend(e, Feind, n. Also: feynd(e, feyind, fieind, fient. [ME. fende, fend, OE. féond, ON. fíande, fjánde.]

1. An evil spirit; a devil, demon.(a) 1375 Barb. iv. 224.
For fendis ar of sic nature, That thai to mankynd has invy a1400 Leg. S. vi. 660.
Than al the prestis gef a ȝell, As thai had bene fendis of hell Ib. ix. 16.
In that ydol duelt … A fend c1450-2 Howlat 741.
For thi frute make ws fre Fro fendis that fell is 1456 Hay II. 65/3.
All syk thinges are bot janglyng of fendis that fleis in the ayre 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 70.
I saw that cruel fend … Thar lymmys ryfe(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 131.
A feynd thane til hyme can he cal Ib. 202.
Cypriane … ane vthir feynd can call c1515 Asl. MS. I. 318/6.
Crist that ourthrewe the feyndis and maide fre mannis saull a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 252.
Lucifers laid, fowll feyindis face infernall c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 5.
Me thocht amangis the feyndis fell Mahoun gart cry ane dance c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5962.
Pas … In cumpany with feindis fell In euerlestyng fyre of Hell a1605 Montg. Son. lxiii. 7.
Quhat furious feynd inflamde thee so to flyte? 1611-57 Mure Son. xi. 15.
Till the feinds this fyre brand fetch

2. spec. The Devil.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 150.
As the fend our-come the man That of the froit had etyne thane c1450-2 Howlat 746.
The fende is our felloune fa 1456 Hay I. 13/25.
Sen the fende fell out of heven c1460 Consail Wys Man 450.
Quhen thow thiself accusis heir, The fend of thé has na powere a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1515.
The fende, the flesche, & wycis mundiale c1515 Asl. MS. II. 246/23.
Owt of the fendis bandis & his brace Now, gloryus lady, helpe c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii 61 (A).
Than forty tymis the fend cryit fy(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxviii. 184.
Of his wil set ded he tuk, To wyne ws frathe feyndis cluk 1490 Irland Mir. I. 167/19.
The feynd … That in await lyith for to caucht me c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 23.
To gar me ryme and rais the feynd in flyting 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 43.
I giue ȝour counsale to the feynd of hell c1552 Id. Mon. 1047.
It was the feynd, full of dispyte, Of Adamis fall quhilk had the wyte 1570 Sat. P. xii. 200.
The Feynd mak cair, I say na mair 1603 Philotus cxxvii.
The feind resaue the lachters a

3. Used as a negative. Cf. Devil 1 e.In later dialect common in the form feint, as in quot. 1673. 1538 Lynd. Justing 30.
The feind ane thing I can se bot the lift 1540 Id. Sat. 183.
The feind a faster I micht gang a1568 Scott xxv. 8.
Feind a crum of thé scho fawis 1570 Sat. P. xii. 189.
War scho heir, I tak na feir, The feynd aby we set her 1633 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 107.
Fiend a bit, Fiend take you, the Diuell an inch! 1657 Dunferm. Kirk S. 49.
Thomas Trumble … being askit … quhair he was going answerit, fend a bitt he wald tell 1673 Bk. Pasquils 201.
Fient ane of you I fear, now I see clear