Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1779-1884
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†FAIK, v.2 Also feike, fake.
1. To abate, remit, lower (a price or sum of money (Per., Lth. 1808 Jam.).Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 59:
If a poor beggar body had a bit wean to chrisen, the deil a doit they feike him o't.Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 52:
Ait meal an kibbocks pay for a', Sae fake them nane the miekle price.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xcii.:
I'll no faik a plack o' my just debt.Rnf. 1884 J. Nicholson Willie Waugh 27:
Auld Nature hauds her debtors like a vice An' winna fake ae farden o' the price.
2. To spare, excuse; to give or take a respite; to let go with impunity (Lth. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.4 1900).Ayr. 1789 Burns 2nd Epistle to Davie iii.:
Sic han's as you sud ne'er be faiket, Be hain't wha like.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 45:
For villains there's a gallows tree Wha kill by gash or stab, But wharfore does it faik the dog Wha kills like Barnton's Rab?Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 75:
She never faiket, she never faiket. . . . And ne'er took a minute o' rest or ease.
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"Faik v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/faik_v2>
