fay
verbadjectivenounadjectivenounverbnounadjectiveattested in dialogue
- //feɪ//
To join (pieces of timber) tightly. The long edges of the staves of a barrel have to be fayed so that when it is assembled it will not leak.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo fit, to add.
- 2
To join (pieces of timber) tightly. The long edges of the staves of a barrel have to be fayed so that when it is assembled it will not leak.
I have a strip cutter and I can cut the exact widths I need to fit, they are easy to fay together and attach very firmly to the bulkheads.
- 3
Of pieces of timber: to lie close together.
- 4
obsoleteTo fadge.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English feyen, feien, from Old English fēġan (“to join, unite”), from Proto-West Germanic *fōgijan, from Proto-Germanic *fōgijaną (“to join”), from *fōgō (“joint, slot”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“to fasten, place”). Akin to Saterland Frisian fougje (“to join, add”), West Frisian foegje (“to join, add”), Dutch voegen (“to add, place”), German Low German fögen (“to join, add”), German fügen (“to connect”), Old English fōn (“to catch”). More at fang.
adjective
- 1
Fitted closely together.
Under the four outer corners of the horizontal frame platform 22 are four tubular leg sleeves 23 that are fay together one at each outer corner.
noun
- 1
A fairy.
that mighty Princesse did complaine / Of grieuous mischiefes, which a wicked Fay / Had wrought [...].
A Nimph is marryed to a Fay, Great preparations for the Day, All Rites of Nuptials they recite you, To the Brydall and inuite you.
Which is sixteen leagues long, but is so full of Fairie and strange things that few people pass there without being lost or stopt, because therewithin dwelleth a king, Oberon the Fay.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English faie, fei (“a place or person possessed with magical properties”), from Middle French feie, fée (“fairy", "fae”), from Old French fae, from Medieval Latin fāda. More at fairy.
adjective
- 1
Fairy-like.
noun
- 1
obsoletefaith
Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late. I'll to my rest.
"Rash man," cried she, "how dost thou dare To come disturb my waters fair! "Thou shalt unto me plight thy fay, Or seven years thou shalt waste away, Or thou shalt die ere the third day." "To thee my faith plight will I ne'er, For I am married now a year."
Etymology
From Middle English fei, from Old French fei
verb
- 1
To cleanse; clean out.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English feien (“to cleanse”), from Old Norse fægja (“to cleanse, polish”), from Proto-Germanic *fēgijaną (“to decorate, make beautiful”), from Proto-Indo-European *pōḱ-, *pēḱ- (“to clean, adorn”). Cognate with Swedish feja (“to sweep”), Danish feje (“to sweep”), German fegen (“to cleanse, scour, sweep”), Dutch vegen (“to sweep, strike”). More at feague, fake, fair.
noun
- 1
slangA white person.
Etymology
Abbreviation of ofay.
adjective
- 1
slangWhite; white-skinned.
I really went for Ray's press roll on the drums; he was the first fay boy I ever heard who mastered this vital foundation of jazz music.
Forms
- plural
- fays
- comparative
- more fay
- superlative
- most fay
- past tense
- fayed
- past participle
- fayed
- present participle
- faying
- third person singular
- fays
fay · To join (pieces of timber) tightly. The long edges of the staves of a barrel have to be fayed so that when it is assembled it will not leak.
Fay · An Anglo-Irish surname transferred from the nickname,…Faye · A female given name, variant of Fay.FBI · Federation of British Industry (1916–1965), forerunner of CBI…