glossary of archaic Scots terms F

Scotland - a glossary of archaic terms, as well as a number of Modern Scots words and phrases, useful for genealogical research. Legal terms, words linked to property and possessions, found in wills and testaments.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

FACTOR (factory). attorney (power of attorney) to manage affairs generally or in particular. 2. The person empowered; factrix, a female factor

FADER, fadir, father, fadir-of-lau, father in law (see father in law), fadir-in-Gode, godfather

FAILLIE (failzieing), failure (failing).

FAILZAND, lacking in (e.g. an appointed heir)

FAMYLE, 1. family 2. Kindred or lineage

FATHER IN LAW, step-father, and sometimes wife's father or "gude father."

FAYR, father. The y is the th contracted, not a method of spelling.

FAYVE, five.

FEDE, feud, hereditary enmity.

FEE, full ownership as distinct from life‑rent, or ownership for life only.

FEILD, field.

FELLIS, fells, hills (Isl. fjeld, Sw. fjoell)

FENCE, 1. breaking of, escaping from prison or arrest. 2. seizure of goods or land

FENCED COURT, a court opened and held with due solemnity.

FEOFFMENT, legal giving of possession of land, or the fact of being so possessed, infeftment.

FERME, 1. rent ; see a. Blench. 2. adj. firm 3. farm, ferme (pl. fermis)

FEU (few), possession, holding of a superior for rent. Feu-duty, feu-maills, feu-fermes, the rent of a feu.

FEUAR, one who holds a feu (land or house) at a rent.

FIALL, feudal tenure

FIAR (fear), one who holds a property in fee ; the heir who has the fee, as distinct from the person in possession who has the life-rent ; cp. the use of "apparent," "younger."

FIRLES, metal rings uniting a fork or knife to the handle ; cp. ferrule.

FIRLOT MELL, an old measure of meal or other dry stuff; in amount the fourth of a boll.

FLAGGAN (flacon), flagon ; e.g., ane treu flacon of a quarter, a flagon holding a true quarter.

FLIT, To, to remove from or leave lands or house; cp. the old proverb, "Three flittings make a burning," meaning that constant removal is fatal to the preservation of papers, etc.

FOIR, fore, e.g., bak and foir, back and front.

FOIR BEARS, predecessors.

FOIRFADIRS, forefathers.

FOIRGRANDSCHEIR, great-grandfather

FOIRSAID, foyrsaid, aforesaid.

FOLD DYCKS, dykes or walls for enclosing sheep or cattle.

FORANENT, over against.

FOREGRANDDAME, great- or great-great-grandmother

FOREGRANDFATHER, great-grandfather

FOREGRANTSIRE, great- or great-great-grandfather

FORELAND (foirland), a front tenement or house.

FOREST, free forest, a forest where the Crown granted hunting rights under charter to the proprietor

FORFAULT, 1. forfeit 2. confiscation from a person of rights or property

FORTALICE, fortress, but often used of a tower to a house.

FOSTERIS, progeny, dependants

FRANKTENEMENT, freehold, franktenementar; freeholder

FUNDLIN, foundling

FURM, form or bench.

FURTH OF (THE COUNTRY), or of land, abroad, removed elsewhere, outside the borders of. Furthputting; eviction from a property

FRE LANDS, free lands ; see s. Barony.

FRETHING, freeing, disburdening.

FYFT, fyift, fifth, fyftye, fifty, fyiftein, fifteen.

TO INDEX

This glossary is under constant revision. We welcome all contributions of archaic terms linked to Scotland, that may be helpful in genealogical research. Please complete the SUGGESTIONS FORM with your ideas, additions and corrections. Thanks!

.... there is nocht tua nations vnder the firmanent that ar mair contrar and different fra vthirs nor is inglis men and scottis men, quhoubeit that thai be vitht in ane ile, and nychtbours, and of ane langage, for inglis men ar subtil, and scottis men ar facile. inglis men ar ambitius in prosperite, and scottis men ar humain in prosperite. inglis men ar humil quhen thai ar subieckit be forse and violence, and scottis men ar furious quhen thai ar violently subiekit. inglis men ar cruel quhens thai get victorie, and scottis men ar merciful quhen thai get victorie....

Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland, 1549

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