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: 1750, 1824-1827, 1898-1913
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FERDY, adj. Also feirdy, feardy, feerdy; fierdi(e), faerdy (Sh.). [′fi:rdi I.Sc., ′færdɪ Sh.]
1. Strong, able, active (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh.10 1951); of a hale old man (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Hence in combs. ferdy-limbed, agile; tongue-ferdy, loquacious, glib (Ags. 1825 Jam.).Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Ulysses' Answer in Sc. Poems (1785) 19:
I need na' tell the pilgets a' I've had wi' feirdy foes.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 33:
Straught to the camp, he said, he meant to pass, Wad he not be a feardy soldier, this.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 92:
Men ferdy-limb'd and swank and hale.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 14:
Turning tongue-ferdy now and crouse.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. xxxi.:
We speir hoo muckle a man haes dune; . . . We frayn gin he be feerdy.
2. Fit, in good condition, worthy (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork.2 1951), esp. in combs. (1) man-fierdy, of a girl, marriageable (Ork. 1929 Marw.); (2) sea-fierdy, of a boat, in good order, seaworthy (Ib.); (3) seed-faerdy, fit for seed; (4) wark-fierdie, fit for work (Sh., Ork. a.1900 E.D.D.).(3) Sh. 1898 Shetland News (9 April):
I haena a shaef parteenin' ta me 'at's seed faerdy.
