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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.

Fers, Feirs, a. Also: ferce, fearce, fearche; feirse, feirce, feyrse. [ME. fers (a 1300), fiers(e, ferce, fierce, OF. fers, fiers, L. ferus.]

1. Fierce, violent, dauntless: a. Of persons.Frequently as an adj. of commendation.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v. 266.
Sycht of fendis, fers and fell c1420 Wynt. i. 304.
In tyll this tyme … Was geawndys walkand fers and fell Ib. vii. 622.
This Alysandyre wes rycht manly: Alysandyr the Fers forthi He was cald c1475 Wall. iv. 621.
Off the fersest full braithly bair he doun Ib. vii. 268.
O fers Wallace, feill tempest is befall a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 513.
Thai salbe fundin right ferse, and full of cheualrie c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 342.
I to flyte wes als fers as a fell dragoun 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 74.
Pallas, with clattering harnes fers in fyght 1533 Boece iii. viii. 103.
This ȝong man fers and kene a1568 Scott ii. 8.
For Mars, the god armipotent, Wes nocht sa fers him sell c1590 Fowler I. 99/58.
Fabius … Who by great craft ferse Anniball and drift of tyme ourcame(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 57.
O feyrse Achill, in furius hie curage 1531 Bell. Boece II. 147.
Ane feirs and vailyeant prince Id. Livy I. 217/8.
The Veanis … tuke degest avisement be quhat hie slichtis thai mycht best confound thare feirs inemyis Ib. 258/30.
Ane feirs and hardy childe, wicht of body and stout of curage c1615 Chron. Kings 56.
Alexander the first, callit the Feirse or Strenthie(c) 1535 Stewart 11874.
So greit curage thai tuke … , Als ferce to fecht as fyre out of the flynt a1568 Scott i. 181.
Frank ferce gallandis for feild gemmis enfors 1596 Dalr. I. 73/2.
Against al ennimies, how fearce and deidlie saeuir thay be 1609 Gardyne Garden 76.
The Fates, ay ferce, That man nor beast forbeares 1617 Mure Misc. P. xxi. 47.
A mynd onconquered, fearcest foes to thrall

b. Of animals. a1400 Leg. S. xi. 372.
Thare-by can dwell Twa tygris bath fers and fell c1515 Asl. MS. I. 251/3.
Cothody … was a fers lyon to his enemys 1513 Doug. v. v. 63.
The ta part [of the adder.] fers and fell, … Strekand hyr nek 15.. Clar. i. 77.
As rugend lyounis ramping ferce and wode c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3781.
Comparand Grekis tyll ane gote With ane horne … fers, furious, and hote a1585 Maitl. Q. lxvi. 65.
The ferce lyoun will not his pat erect Aganis the beist that will the self subiect

c. Of nature, disposition, or actions. 1513 Doug. i. v. 131.
The folkis of Cartage Thar fers mudis and hartis gan asswage 1531 Bell. Boece I. 71.
This regioun … ingeneris wolffis of feirs and cruell nature Id. Livy I. 100/8.
Ane man offeirs and birnyng spreit 1570 Sat. P. xix. 3.
Curst Juno, With birnand feirs curage 1596 Dalr. I. 104 marg.
The nobilitie rushe fordward in the battel with a ferce force

2. Impetuous, unrestrained, forceful, headlong. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 80.
The sparhalk to the spring him sped, Als fers as fyre of flynt 1513 Doug. i. vii. 97.
The mylk quhite horssis, fers, swift and gude Ib. x. vii. 102.
As he on cace was fleand fers as flynt From thy handis 1533 Bell. Livy I. 229/5.
This Lectorius was mare feirs [L. acrior] and afald to put this new law to executioun than was Volero a1540 Freiris Berw. 555.
He was sa ferce he feli owttour the sek, And brak his head 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1737.
His halk also was sa feirce in hir flicht Ib. 9542.
Froith ran fra fronts of the feirs forsie steids 1602 Colville Parænese 17.
So heady ferss idiots … tak on and teche befor thai be instructed

3. Of natural forces, etc.; Violent, intense, extreme. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 211.
The panis fers and fell, that thai sall hawe that ar in hell c1420 Wynt. ii. 457.
All the folk off Tessaly Had nere bene drownyt suddanly Wyth a fers falland flude Ib. v. 1709.
The wykkyt quene … Off fyrflaucht fers in to that stede Peryst 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 96.
Lyke as the fers wyndis … blaw thair bustuus bubbys 1533 Bell. Livy I. 38/14.
Thai ran with feirs incursions throw the samyn [land] 15.. Clar. ii. 1138.
Two speiris have they hint, And ran togidder as ferce fyre and flynt 1655 Nicoll Diary 171.
The storme became so fearche and violent