Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1773-1920
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FEAT, adj. Also faet (Gall. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 115), fait, fett; feit. [fi:t, ‡fe:t]
‡1. Clever, adroit, graceful. Used also adv. Adv. featly, cleverly, smartly. Now arch. or dial. in Eng.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 267:
Sae feat ye tript it.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 147:
As featlie thro' the reels content They ran wi' little pressin'.Lnk. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 208:
My shape is winsome, tall and feit.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Ingleside 165:
Strong an' yall, an fait to hail Oor gowden weddin' day.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 257:
Swallow yer brekfast as featly as you can, an' be aff an' awa'.
2. Neat, trim, tidy, gen. of persons or their dress (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 224, fett; Mry., Hdg., Gall. 1950). Obs. in Eng. since c.1700. Hence featly, adv., featness, n.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 19:
She gae'd as fait as a new Prin, And kept her Housie snod and been.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 43:
Their claes sae cleanly dight an' feat.Ayr. 1786 Burns Halloween iii.:
The lasses feat an' cleanly neat, Mair braw than when they're fine.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poems 2:
Nor wad his wifie waste her winnin', But kept a' feat wi' her ain spinnin'.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 163:
The songster that says thou art sweet, Or rooses thy fashion or featness.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 195:
Every Sabbath day with their dresses “fait and snod” and their linen like the very snow.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 238:
She brushed him faitly down.Sc. 1920 A. Gray Songs from Heine 16:
I lo'e only ane, My neat little, sweet little, feat little quean.
Comb.: ¶feat-peak, some sort of ornamental trimming on the top of a woman's cap.Per. a.1869 C. Spence Poems (1898) 42:
I'll buy a cockernonie fine, She'll plait it wi' a feat-peak.