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.

(Farewele,) Fairweill, int. Also: fareweele, -weill, -weale, farweell; fayrweil(l, fairwele, -weil, -weele, -weell, weal. [ME. farewel, farwel (late 14th c.), f. the phrase fare wel Fare v. 4 b.] Good-bye; adieu.Very common in the 16th c., usually fairweill. a1500 Henr. Fab. 343.
Fair wele, sister, thi feist heir I defy a1500 Doug. K. Hart 477.
Fayr weill my freynd, thow did me never deir Ib. 837.
Adew, fayr weill, wirschip sayis, now I gang Id. Æn. ii. xii. 54.
Adew, fayr weil, for ay we mon dissevir 1543 Douglas Corr. 152.
And thus, trest cousing, fairweill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7377.
The King hir kist, and bad fair weill, adew 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
Fairweal and God keip you a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 95.
Fairweill, my love and lady cleir 1614 Sutherland Chart. 188.
We bid yow fairweele 1668 Conv. Burghs III. 608.
We wish yow a … saffe returne and bids yow fairweill 1679 Red Bk. Menteith II. 177.
I bid yow hartily farweell, … dearest unkell

b. Good-bye to. Also with. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5093.
Fairweill all vaine felyscitie a1568 Scott iv. 49.
Ffairweill with chestetie Fra wenchis fall to chucking 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 20.
Than fair weil thay; the find ressaue the fidder

c. As n. An adieu. a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxiii. 1.
Ane new fairweill, a strainge gudnicht, Of thé … I now will tak