Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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FANT, n., v., adj. Also †faunt. n.Sc. forms of Eng. faint (Sh., ne.Sc. 1950).

I. As in Eng.Sc. a.1714 in Earls of Cromartie (ed. Fraser 1876) II. 487:
I wes nevir so fanthearted as to quitt my inherittance without atempting what is probable for any man in my capacity.Abd. 1809 J. Skinner Amusements 48:
He sware he'd gar their harnpans ring Till black Pate Mill maist fantit, For fear that day.Mry. 1830 T. D. Lauder Mry. Floods 138:
I thought my wife, poor body, wad faunt gin she saw't.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxi.:
Fant hert never wan fair dame.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 11:
I wis forced tae tak' a moofu' o' speerits tae keep me frae fauntin'.

II. adj. Of weather: close, oppressive (Ags.¹⁹, Per. 1950). Cf. Eng. dial. faint, id.

III. v. Sh. usage, tr. and intr.: to starve, famish (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1951). Vbl.n. fanteen, a fast.Sh. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 25:
On Hallow morning every beast in the byre got a whole hallow (sheaf of corn) for its breakfast, in addition to the usual meagre allowance, but the day was observed as a “fanteen” until the evening.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. II. 69:
Mary, go home an hae somethin ta eat dis meenit. Du's fantin.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 84:
I tocht doo wid a needed a drap i' dee mooth. I hoop dey didna fant dee.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Her midder wis kinda taen aff.
"Hit's a notion shu's taen lately".
Her faider, I tink, wis ill-plaised.
"Never leet her, Mam, lat her fant".