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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.

Farce, Fars, v. Also: fayrce, fairse, fers, fearce. [ME. farce, farse (a 1340), OF. farcir, farsir, L.farcīre.]

1. tr. To stuff or cram with food … 1375 Barb. ix. 398.
Our lordis of France, that ay With gud morsellis farsis [E. fayrcis] thair panch a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 307.
Thi wame also Wantonly thu farcis with met 14.. Acts I. 332/2.
Off the chalance of ail tastaris. … At thai fars thar wames in drynkand within the hous quhar thai sulde stande in the middis of the streyt befor the dur 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 52.
Sum grenys eftir a guse, To fars his wame full 1531 Bell. Boece II. 108.
He tuke plesoure … to fars his wambe with all surfettis and delicius cheir a1568 Scott i. 123.
Sum … ar bot biblistis fairsing full thair bellie 1609 Gardyne Garden 82.
What is this bodie that They fearce so full, and dresse so delicat 1611-57 Mure Dido iii. 276.
To fairse his belly with so kindly meate

2. To stuff in cookery. Also absol. c1420 Wynt. iii. 830..
His sone … , In quartarys lyand on a weschelle, Wyth precyous spycys farsyd [C. farssit, W. fersit] welle 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 1231.
Martiall was cuik till roist, seith, farce and fry

3. To stuff with lies, etc. 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 20.
Nocht content to have farcet his letter with thir maist manifest lies, he continewes [etc.] 1657 Balfour Ann. III. 421.
It is the deiuells booke, … fearced full of wickednesse and impieties