We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

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.Ib. 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.

[O.Sc. has ferdie, fairdy, quick, active, from a.1568. From Faird. The phonology of the [i:] forms, however, is obscure. There has been fusion, in I.Sc. usage, with Norw. dial. ferdig, ready, wholesome, active, late O.N. ferðugr, fit (of Low Ger. origin, cf. Ger. (-)fertig), phs. also with Fere, adj.]

11016

snd