Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FEYNESS, n. Also feiness (Jak.), fiyness (Sh. 1898 Sh. News (24 Sept.)).

1. A feeling of impending death, an atmosphere of doom.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 254:
She wis a bonnie lassie — ower bonnie tae live lang. There wis a feyness aboot her.

Phr.: feyness notion, an impression, an idea, a feeling approaching certainty.m.Lth.¹ 1952:
I've a feyness notion the buiks are in the dresser drawer.

2. Craziness, mad behaviour.Fif. 1900 “S. Tytler” Jean Keir xiv.:
Regarding the young laird as having reached the last stage of “feyness” and “giteness”.

3. The apparition of an absent person, supposed to portend his death, a wraith (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1951).Sh. 1886 “G. Temple” Britta 99:
A ook gone this vairy dy faither saw his feyness in da dagset.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 162:
A person likely to die was said to be fey, and a gaenfore or feyness was a prelude of death.Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 14. 12:
He has to face feynesses and ghosts, witches and ferry-folk and trows.