Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Fard, Faird, n.¹ Also: farde, fared, ferd. [Obscurely related to Fare v.] Force of movement, impetus, rush, onset.One of Douglas's favourite words.(a) 1513 Doug. i. v. 127.
He with gret fard of weyngis flaw throu the sky Ib. ii. iv. 16; etc.
The salt fame stouris from the fard thai hald 1531 Bell. Boece II. 146.
King Feredech … ruschit with sic farde amang his ennymes, that he wes excludit fra his awin folkis Ib. 218.
Thay ruschit with sic properant fard, that baith the wingis of Scottis wer put to flicht(b) 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 103 (Sm).
The fomy rivair … with his bruscheand faird of watter broun 1531 Bell. Boece II. 178.
Our folkis usis, quhen thay ar to fecht, to cum with sic faird and noys, that [etc.] 1549 Compl. 42/10.
Be rason that the mouyng of the pepil vithtin ane schip stoppis hyr of hyr faird 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1781.
This gud hound … With ane fell faird on the serpent he ran 1596 Rep. Mar and Kellie, MSS. 46.
The people … tuik armes, and war nocht we stayed thair faird, thay had licht … upoun mony of the counsallouris 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 432.
[He made towards him on horseback, but] being disappointed of his faird that way he lighted aff his hors 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 85.
None gained by those bloody fairds, But two three beggers who turn'd lairds

b. In figurative or transferred senses. 1558-66 Knox II. 390.
God … had strycken … the Duke of Gueise, which somwhat brak the fard of our Quene for a seassone 1562-3 Winȝet I. 99/14.
At this place … Johne Knox maid a fel farde, to his gloir ȝe wate c1590 Fowler I. 351.
So I, alas! through fained fared Am lyk to reap the lyke rewarde 1593 Warrender P. MS. B. 355.
To stop the faird of my services with a new devyse of a devilish accusatioun 1635 Dickson Pract. Writings I. 188.
Make not … a faird only to be at it, and then leave it there 1639 Baillie I. 207.
Weell understanding that the ferd of our hott spirits could not long byde in edge