A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Failȝeit, Falȝeit, ppl. a. Also: failȝeyt, -ȝete, faleȝete. [ME. faylled (1490). Cf. Faillit.]
1. Of persons: Impaired in health or strength, esp. by old age. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1152.
Sanct Dewynnik … Thru gret eilde falȝeit & ded was Ib. xxxiv. 235.
This ald … That is falȝit nere fore elde c1500-c1512 Dunb. Twa Mar. W. 173.
He is failȝeid full far and falȝeid [M. fulȝeit] in labour 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 29.
Quhat can ȝe say forther, bot I am failȝeit, In Venus werkis? 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 93.
Jhoun Michell, lokman, is failyeit and unhabill to exerce his office
b. In attributive use. 1466 Acts II. 86/2.
For the reformacioune of the hospitalis & for the helping of the failȝeit creatouris 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 324.
To ane ald failȝeit preist … xvj d. 1504 Ib. II. 267.
To … Schir Andro to dispone … to ald failȝeyt and misterfull honest folkis 1533 Bell. Livy II. 135/1.
The samyn sall nocht be sufferit be the auld and failȝeit knichtis 1584 Acts III. 364/1.
Thair dewiteis … to be … employit … for support and releif of the failȝeit and decayet burgesis 1616–17 Ayr Common Good (MS.).
James Kennedy ane auld failȝeit gild brothir
2. a. Of buildings: No longer in good condition; dilapidated, ruinous. 1528 Reg. Privy S. I. 577/2.
Ane failȝeit tenement … liand within the said burgh 1535 Stewart 10994.
Agricola ane failȝeit place thair fand, Of litill fect and falling to the ground 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 50.
They fand the eister cheik of the Grayfreir port failyeit 1599 Ib. V. 244.
The ruif, … thak and gutteris of thair … kirk, … is swa failyeit and decayet … that [etc.]
b. Of a document: In bad condition. 1540 Ayr Charters 16.
Becaus the said charter … wes sumpart auld and failyeit
c. Faded in colour. a1500 Doug. K. Hart 504.
His courtlie cloke begouth to fayd of hew … Lyk failȝeit blak quhilk wes befoir tyme blew a1568 Bann. MS. 222 b/8.
In my garth thair growis a rois Wes fresche and fair and now is felȝeit 1580 Edinb. Test. IX. 28 b.
Of failȝeit silk & endis of cordellis foure vnce
3. Discouraged, dispirited. 1492 Myll Spect. 294/30.
The pepill said that he was recreant and falȝeit of his hart
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"Failȝeit ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fail3eit>
