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.
FAST, n.2 Also fasta, fasti(e). A rope fastened at either end to a large sunken stone and looped round the stem of a boat to serve as an anchor (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), fast, fasti; Sh.10 1951); also applied to the stones and rope as a whole (Sh. 1825 Jam., fasta; Sh.10 1951); and to a rope similarly weighted for securing a hay- or corn-stack. Hence ppl.adj. fastied, of a stack so tied down.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 197:
The latter was putting an additional “fastie” on a screw.Ib. 54:
It's little a rivin' storm frichtens me whin my hoose is ta'en aboot, my screws fastied.Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Restin Chair Yarns 96:
His wand wis laek a mast, His toam wis laek a fast.
Comb.: fasti(e)-baand, fasta-, 1. the rope tied to the stone (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., fastie-band; Sh.10 1951); 2. a cross-stay running under the thwarts of a boat to secure the ribs (Sh. 1951).2. Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Shet. 512:
Strik da head oot o' da drink kig and ouse da boat; da watter wis up at da fasta bands.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (21 Oct.):
The main division between the rooms [in a sixern] was the fastabaands or haddabaands.
