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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.

Fere, Feir, a.¹ Also: fer, feire, feyr, feayr, fear(e, fayr. [Early ME. fere (c 1175), OE. *fére, (ON. fœ́r-, fœ́rr), f. fór, pret. stem of faran to go.]

1. Of persons: Well and active; in health and vigour. Usually in the phrase hale and fere.(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 92.
The king eschapyt haile and fer Ib. ix. 231.
Thair bost has maid me haill and fer a1400 Leg. S. iv. 213.
I commawnd thé, that hale and fer in to this oure thou ryse Ib. xlii. 222.
I haf god nere, That be word ma mak me fere 1456 Hay I. 159/5.
His maister aw to kepe him hale and fere of his persone c1420 Ratis R. 178.
That thir thingis … Wyll smyt men that are hail and fere 1533 Bell. Livy II. 207/6.
The maist parte … come hale and fere to Veos(b) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 207/3.
King Ihon … come hame in Scotland hale & feire 1531 Bell. Boece i. p. li.
Als thay come haill and feir … to extreme age, but ony use of medcinary 1536 Douglas Corr. 143.
Weit ȝe that I am hayll and feyr at the makyn off this byll 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 184.
George Younger … is at this present hale and feir of his persoun 1602 Dundonald Par. Rec. ii.
Scho beand haill and feir and calling afeild the ky to the well(c) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 173.
Thow sall wit that I am haill and feare

b. Similarly of horses or cattle. 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 59.
Efter he left his horse … with hym hale and fayr without onne hurt oder in lyth or lyme 1579 Ib. 271.
[He] allegis to haif deliuerit the saidis gudis haill and feayr within the … clois 1608 Melrose R. Rec. I. 60.
Eftir he had borrowit the meir, he redeliverit hir to the persewar haile and feir 1631 Black Bk. Taymouth 388.
It is provin … that he [sc. a horse] wes haill and feir thairefter four monethis

2. Of things: Sound, unimpaired. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 1438.
As day come, He fand his schank hale & fere c1515 Asl. MS. I. 315/4.
Moyses … saw a busk birnyng; and cummyn to it fand it hele & fere 1565 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 116 b.
Quhilk coffir wes hale and feyr onhurt … on[i]e manyr of way