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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

FEEGARIE, n. Also figarie, and extended form figmagar(e)y. Finery in dress, frippery; a gew-gaw, a toy (Uls.2 1929, figmagarey); a whimsical prank (Arg.3 1951). Cf. Flagarie and Eng. dial. fegary, id. Also used attrib. of anything finical. [fi′ge:re]Sc. 1803 Scots Mag. (March) 174:
I am but an auld plain boddie, it's true, and no Very fit to enter into fine figarie arguments wi' our new fangled folk.
Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 56:
Grave dames in a' their nice feegaries.
Lnk. 1880 D. M. McAuslane Cld. Readings 171:
A sensible bonnet, destitute o' every falderal an' figmagary.

[An altered form of vagary, with extended meaning.]

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