Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1845, 1908
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BACK-FEAST, -FAESTE, n. A feast given by the best man at a wedding in return for the marriage feast. [′bɑk′æst, -fist]Sh. 1908 J. M. E. Saxby in Old-Lore Misc., Ork. Sh., etc. I. vii. 271:
“Da Backfaeste” was an entertainment given by the principal groomsman in return for the wedding festivities to which the best-man contributed nothing, but where he was regarded as the most important guest.Ork. 1845 A. White in Stat. Acc.2 XV. (Orkney) 113:
The best-man [felt] himself called upon to give the back-feast, which occurred a month or two after the wedding, and in which he was assisted by contributions from some of the other young men in the immediate neighbourhood.
