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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FUIRD, n., v. Also foord, fourd; feuard; fyoord; förd (Sh.). Sc. forms of Eng. ford. See also Feerd. [I., m. and s.Sc. fø:rd, fe:rd, mn. and nn.Sc. f(j)u:(ə)rd. See P.L.D. §§ 35, 142, 146, 157.]

I. n.

1. As in Eng (fyoord Abd. 1990s).Sc. 1746 More Culloden Papers (ed. Warrand 1930) V. 43:
The three Fourds of the River Shin.Sc. 1834 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 91:
Aften they wadna ventur on the fuirds, in dread o' a sudden spate frae a water-spoot.Abd. 1891 G. W. Anderson Strathbogie 160:
Set her doon ower the feuard Gin she winna come back!Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 219:
Everyene röses the förd as he fin's it.Sc. 1935 D. Rorie Lum Hat 16:
The track to the foord is smoort wi' snaw.

2. Sc. usage: "The term used to denote one of the various unfair modes of fishing, practised on running water. The fishes are pursued up a stream, till they are all driven into the pool above it, where they are secured by a large net" (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 56).

II. v. As in Eng.; also †to transport by sea. The 1706 example is due to an assimilation to fuird of the orig. term furing; see Fuhre and Flit, v., 1.Ork. 1706 Marw. (1929) 44:
In a 1706 lease . . . which Pat Fea, Jr. . . . has from his father, Pat Fea, Sr., reserves for himself certain things — together with “flitting and foording by the cottars and tenants.”Sc. 1772 Edb. Ev. Courant (10 Oct.):
A farmer and his son on horseback attempting to foord a narrow stripe a little above.Bnff. 1933 M. Symon Deveron Days 46:
Lane reeks my lum owre corries — An' — fa wad foord the linn?