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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.

FEERIE, adj.1 Also feery, fearie, feirrie. Strong, active, clever, fearless (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 202); specif. with regard to walking: nimble, smart (Sc. 1818 Sawers). Also used adv.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 164:
Ha'd your Feet, luckie daddie, old Folk are not feery.
Sc. 1763 W. Thom Donaldsoniad 364:
He maintains, that a strict analogy may be observed between every one's natural manner of walking and his manner of thinking, and that to call a man eloquent or feery o' the feet, is to speak of him in synonymous terms.
Ayr. 1792 Burns Deuk's dang o'er my Daddie i.:
“The fien-ma-care,” quo' the feirrie auld wife.
Dmf. 1810 R. Cromek Remains 60:
Kimmer can cast owre it her cantraips an' spells, An' feerie can cross it in twa braid cockle shells.
Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick ix.:
Suppose ye took a soond man, hale an' feery o' the feet, an' gar't him aye walk aboot wi' a pair o' crutches, what wad happen til him?
Kcb. 1909 Gallovidian No. 44. 177:
He was on the borders o' four score, yet a fearie fell auld carle.

Hence adv. feerilie, -y. cleverly, actively, nimbly (Per. 1880 Jam.).Sc. 1763 W. Thom Donaldsoniad 368:
I thocht it wad be better if it was a' dun bi ane that cou'd gae throw it feerily and cannily.

[O.Sc. fery, feirie, id. from c.1420. A deriv. in -ie of Fere, adj., q.v.]

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"Feerie adj.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/feerie_adj1>

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