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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FECKFU, adj. Also feckful, -fou, -fow.

‡1. Capable, efficient, managing (Per. 1920); effective. Of clothes: serviceable, hard-wearing, appropriate to the occasion.Hdg. a.1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 95:
She hoped in him to find a feckfu' frien'. Her tale she tauld, an' syne made her request.Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers' Three Daughters 82:
I'm fain to try a' the ways I ken, but I find this the maist feckfu'.Ib. 254:
If your claes banna of the newest fashion, they are feckfu'.Ayr. 1879 J. White Jottings 233:
Her feckfu' ways are aye the best.Lth. 1882 “J. Strathesk” Blinkbonny 199:
He's a feckfu, laddie, Gordie; he'll show them a' a dance yet.Per. 1893 Harp of Per. (ed. Ford) 385:
Gae pit ye on yer coat o' grey, And I'll pit on my feckfu' goon.

2. Sturdy, forceful, powerful, vigorous (Uls.² 1929; Fif. 1950).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems 111:
Feckfu' Folk can front the bauldest Wind.Sc. 1788 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 558:
Your Muse is sic a feckfu' beast, She's no, like mine, aft gi'en to riest.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 510:
Curse my donard right hand — or rather, my dotard head — for my hand was aye handy and feckfu.Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 220:
I let that feckfow fallow, Time, Gae breeshlin by.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 248:
The feckfu' grip, an' the heart-hove sigh.Abd. 1926 “L. Moon” Drumorty 108:
So it was clear that he was a feckful man in spite of his legs.

†3. Wealthy, possessing substance (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. liv.:
Grace . . . favours the puir mair'n the feck-fow.