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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.

Fang, Fange, v. [ME. fangen (c 1200), fang(e, fong(e, replacing earlier fon, OE. fón (p.p. fangen).]

1. tr. To get or take, obtain, acquire, come into possession of (something). a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 242.
How that he, … come vs amange, & how mane-kynd that he can fange Ib. xl. 225.
He … many fra the feynd can fang, That in his service had duelt lang c1450-2 Howlat 939.
Now ilk fowle his awne fedder sall agane fang a1500 Henr. Fab. 2111.
Micht we that hering fang, It wald be fische to vs thir fourtie dayis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 62.
Birdis hes ane better law … That ilk ȝeir … fangis thame ane fresche feyr Ib. 88.
All the fruit suld I fang, thocht he the flour burgeoun 1567 Sempill Sat. P. iii. 38.
Ȝit neuer did sho se his maik in France Off royall bluid, to fang to be hir feir a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 96.
I do bot litill wrang Bot gif I flowris fang 1642 Baillie II. 21.
How the news went at Aberdeen, that yow should have been fanged for that Universitie

b. With abstract objects, as frendschip, etc. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 421.
Our seymly souerance … will noght cese, Quhill he haue frely fangit your frendschip a1500 Doug. K. Hart 836.
Dame Plesance sweit sembland In ȝouthheid wald nocht thole ws wirschip fang c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 363.
He was fane for to fang fra me that fair office Ib. lv. 6.
Now propoyss thai … Off Wenus feest to fang ane fill c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 2.
He him bethocht for to fang sum defence Ib. iv. 105.
Gif we may fang fauour

c. To take to, engage in. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 626.
On fute freschly thai frekis feghtin thai fang Ib. 902.
He lansit out … , Quhair he suld frastyn his force, and fangin his fight Ib. 837.
Than wes schir Kay wondir wo, wit ye but weir, In defalt of ane freik the feghting to fang

2. To catch; to take by catching or seizing. 1456 Hay II. 109/13.
Faynde with fairnes to flee before thai thé fang a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 45.
Ane ciete thai se … Myght none fang it with force a1500 Henr. Fab. 727.
To fang him fische haillelie wes his intent a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 54.
As attircop fechtis to fang a fle Makand hir net c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 67.
Then set my fais for to fang me 1540 Id. Sat. 2148.
Theif carle, … In faith, my freindschip ȝe sall feill, And I thé fang 1570 Sat. P. xx. 99.
Fall to, … And think it lang ay quhil ȝe fang The feiris that did inuent This crueltie Ib. xxii. 93.
Thoull curs the day Quhen Justice falset fangis 1600-1610 Melvill 274.
These simple foulles, this way fangit in the net of these craftie hountars 1614 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 40.
Euen as a birde, caught in an vnseene snare, So was I fangd in lawlesse souldiours handes

3. To take (in one's arms); to embrace. c1475 Wall. ii. 425.
Than sodanly in armys he coud him fang a1500 Seven S. 1137.
Mycht nocht serf thé … My ȝoung body to fald & fang? c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 66.
We suld haue feiris as fresche to fang quhen we wald Ib. 209. 1567 G. Ball. 36.
In his armis he did him fang

4. a. To pull or draw in. 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 53.
Our fallowis fangis in thar salis tyght 1531 Bell. Boece Proheme 13.
That nicht thay … The fatall hors did throw thair wallis fang

b. To take hold of; to seize. a1500 Sir Eger 1507.
His spear before him could he fang 1600-1610 Melvill 32.
On ged the corslet, and fangit was the hagbot, and to the fields 1618 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 42.
Base fischer towne, that fang'd thy nettes before, And drencht into the deepes, thy foode to winne

c. To include, comprise. 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 2287.
His age, … muche in few to fang, It nev're his maners chang'd