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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FANT, n., v., adj. Also †faunt. n.Sc. forms of Eng. faint (Sh., ne.Sc. 1950).

I. As in Eng.Sc. a.1714 in Earls of Cromartie (ed. Fraser 1876) II. 487:
I wes nevir so fanthearted as to quitt my inherittance without atempting what is probable for any man in my capacity.Abd. 1809 J. Skinner Amusements 48:
He sware he'd gar their harnpans ring Till black Pate Mill maist fantit, For fear that day.Mry. 1830 T. D. Lauder Mry. Floods 138:
I thought my wife, poor body, wad faunt gin she saw't.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxi.:
Fant hert never wan fair dame.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 11:
I wis forced tae tak' a moofu' o' speerits tae keep me frae fauntin'.

II. adj. Of weather: close, oppressive (Ags.¹⁹, Per. 1950). Cf. Eng. dial. faint, id.

III. v. Sh. usage, tr. and intr.: to starve, famish (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1951). Vbl.n. fanteen, a fast.Sh. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 25:
On Hallow morning every beast in the byre got a whole hallow (sheaf of corn) for its breakfast, in addition to the usual meagre allowance, but the day was observed as a “fanteen” until the evening.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. II. 69:
Mary, go home an hae somethin ta eat dis meenit. Du's fantin.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 84:
I tocht doo wid a needed a drap i' dee mooth. I hoop dey didna fant dee.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Her midder wis kinda taen aff.
"Hit's a notion shu's taen lately".
Her faider, I tink, wis ill-plaised.
"Never leet her, Mam, lat her fant".