Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

FENDFU, adj. Also fendfou, fenfa. Able to fend for oneself, resourceful, energetic (Ags.¹⁹ 1950). [′fɛn(d)fə]Dmf. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (Dec.) 321:
The sighing gudewife will lack her snawy blanket wi' the blue edge, else ye're grown less fendfou than ever I saw ye.Sc.(E) 1873 D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster 9:
Troth I'm jalousin' she was fendfou'.Ayr. 1913 “Kissock” Sc. Poems 22:
But oor wee Jean's a fenfa wean, Wi' muckle gumption o' her ain.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 74:
Gin the ae answer tae dool is wark then here's
as muckle ontak as onie could want, fendfu bliss,
kyauve warthy o the laist drap o strength.