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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.

Fere, Feir, n.¹ Also: fer, feyr, feir(e, feer. [ME. fere, ONhb. fœ́ra, OE. ᵹeféra.]

1. A companion, comrade.(a) 1375 Barb. vi. 86.
His twa men bad he than in hy Ga to thair feris to rest and ly Ib. 269.
Hym ane, bot fer a1400 Leg. S. ii. 2.
Paule, that was Peteris fere Ib. 323.
The [twa] knychttis … and thar thred fer 14.. Acts I. 26/2.
The burges sal clenge him with sex handis of burges … and he agaynis the burges … with als mony feris til hym c1420 Wynt. ii. 1044.
Tantalus that wes as fere Tyll goddys, and alye nere Ib. viii. 1548.
Waltyr and twa sqwyerys, That in that slauchtyr ware wyth hym feris c1475 Wall. ix. 915.
The Scottis thaim dantyt swa, Nayn Inglisman durst fra his feris ga c1500 Crying of Play 145.
I and my thre feres … Weilfaire, wantones, & play 1513 Doug. i. iv. 70.
O ȝe my feris and deir frendis Ib. v. iv. 54; etc.
Mynestheus gan hys feris exhort and call 1533 Boece iii. xvii. 116.
Quhen thevantgarde … war ourethrawin thare feris … soneȝit nocht to fechttransf. 1513 Doug. x. xii. 56.
The bustuus swyne … Quhen that he is betrappyt fra his feris … Standis at the bay(b) c1450-2 Howlat ii.
Throw thir cliftis so cleire Withoutin fallowe or feire I raikit Ib. 962.
Pryde neuer ȝit left His feir but a fall 1513 Doug. v. i. 27.
Commandis he euery feir Do red thar takillis, and stand hard by thar geir Ib. x. xi. 4.
O thou, my systir german and my feir 1535 Stewart 23693.
All his feiris war slane euirilk one Ib. 38574.
Few feiris with him that tyme he hed c1550 Rolland C. Venus i. 79.
The ane maid not so merie cheir, As his fellow, at that time was his feir a1568 Scott ii. 106.
Thay band vp kyndnes in that toun, Nane fra his feir to foche 1626 Garden Worthies 78.
His feer in fight … In everie battell, bargane, & debeat

b. A mate or spouse. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 209.
Than suld I haif a fresch feir to fang in mynn armes 1535 Stewart 17819.
His onlie child and eik his dochter deir, In mariage he hes tane to his feir a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 43.
Sen that ȝour quein hes chosin hir ane feir 1567 Sempill Sat. P. iii. 38.
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France Off royall bluid, to fang to be hir feir a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 21.
The turtill trew … having loist hir feir

2. An opponent … … … 1513 Doug. x. xii. 115.
To the erth ourthrawyn he has his feir

b. A match or equal. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 94.
This awfull beist … , of fassoun fair, but feir a1568 Scott xvii. 9.
Dame Natur, … That formit hes this flour so fair but feir a1585 Maitl. Q. xvi. 11.
Ane Heroid rang into thay ȝeiris, … Now he has ane thowsand feiris Ib. xlviii. 64.
Estemed … far suetar & metar to haue bein Paris feir