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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MISFARE, v., n. Also misfair; ¶misfaur. Pa.t. misfure (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis); misfuir (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); misföre. Pa.p. misfor(e)n; misfu(h)re; misförn (Sh.). [-fer, -før, -forn]

I. v. To come to grief, to go wrong, to be ruined or overwhelmed, to founder, freq. of a boat at sea (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 145, Sh. 1963). Ppl.adjs. misfarin, ill-grown (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.); misforn in comb. misforn knot, a knot of a particular shape in the planking of a boat, thought to presage its loss (Sh.¹⁰ 1963).Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poems II. 85:
Oure again on Mistress coup't: Sair, sair misfuirt was she.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (9 April):
He wis rowin' wi' wis da simmer 'at a' da boats misföre.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 126:
The presence of these indicated that the boat was liable to störa-brooken, i.e. blown up by the wind on land, or misförn at sea.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De coo is misforen.Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 57. 7:
Aye trustin at ye'll no misfare If da sea caavs in ower da side.

II. n. Misfortune, evil fate. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms cix. 14:
Be the ill o' his faithers in mind wi' the Lord; an' his mither's misfaur no forgot.