Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

†FEERY-FARRY, n. Also feiry-, fierie (-y)-, ferie-, firie-, firry-, -fa(i)ry, -farie, -far(e)y. A bustle, a tumult; a state of excitement, disorder (Abd.⁸ 1917; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also used adv.Abd. 1737 W. Meston Poet. Wks. (1802) 110:
His eyes turn'd dim, he lost his sight: In this perplexing firie-farie, And inexpressible quandarie.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 58:
When in this unco firry-farry, I met ae day wi' poet Chirrey.Ayr. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 352:
Therefor I'll say nae mair e'enow, saebeins I ding you a' firry-farry.Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 51:
Yet bitter have their angers been And terrible the feery-farie.em.Sc. (a) 1896 “I. Maclaren” Kate Carnegie 217:
John was quite calm — “dinna pit yirsel in a feery-farry”.Sc. 1933 D. K. Broster Wild Almond xv.:
I clean forgot them, Miss Bride — and sma' blame to me, wi' a' the feery-fary there was this afternoon!