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.
†FERTOR, n. Also ferter.
1. = Eng. feretory, a shrine, reliquiary, a bier. Arch.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 150:
Fertor in flinders flew around; The kist, it boundit on the ground, Scatterin', throu' a' the barrei's bound, The banes frae side to side.
2. In comb.: ferter-like, adj., ghastly-looking, as if ready for his bier.Abd. 1742 R. Forbes Ajax (1755) 13:
Wi' sickness now he's ferter like, Or like a water-wraith.