Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1778-1822, 1913
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UNFEARY, adj. Also -fiery, onfeirie; ¶unfeiroch. Weak, infirm, uncertain in one's gait (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.). Obs. exc. liter. See Feerie, adj.1 [ʌn′firi]Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 32:
The auld beast being unfiery o' the feet.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads II. 171:
Thoch auld onfeirie and lyart I'm now.Sc. 1809 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) II. 269:
My valued pair of four-legged champions, Douglas and Percy, wax old and unfeary.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) xxvii.:
Gang about your business, and dinna plague a poor auld unfeiroch man.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ I. xxii.:
Mony dwable an' unfeiroch men say. "Behauld hoo weel siccan ane leeves."
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"Unfeary adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/unfeary>
