Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Febilnes, n. Also: febillnes, fibil(l)nes. [e.m.E. febylnesse, ME. febel-, febulnes (c 1300).] Feebleness, weakness.(1) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 35.
I ma nocht wirk … for gret eld & febilnes 1456 Hay II. 77/22.
Grete febilness of body has maid me sa … hevy to travaile 1490 Irland Mir. I. 18/6.
Ihesu knew well oure febilnes, miserie and pouerte 1533 Boece ii. iii. 61 b.
Be febilnes of age … it efferis me nocht bere the cure thareof 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4687.
Throw verie fault of febilnes of blude c1615 Chron. Kings 26.
Quhan Maximus … wnderstuid the fibillnis of the Scottis and Pechis(2) 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. 12.
The balye … delayit the dome for febilnes of court c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 300.
Quhilk ay the fule did forȝet for febilnes of knawlege a1568 Scott v. 24.
Quhais falsatt, fibilnes and tressone, Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
Praying the reidar to apardoun the febilnes of my waik spreit and engyne