▪ I. feaze, v.1 Obs. exc. Naut.
(fiːz)
Forms: 6 faze, 9 faize, 8– feaze.
[In some way related to OE. fæs (see fas) fringe; possibly as a naut. term f. MDu. vese, veze fringe, frayed edge, which is related by ablaut to the OE. word.]
1. a. trans. To unravel (a rope), etc. b. intr. Of a rope or thread: To unravel at the end. Also of a stick: To wear rough at the end.
| 1568 Sir T. Smith De recta Ling. Angl. Script. 31 b, Fäz, in fila diducere [Smith's ‘fäz’ = faze; cf. ‘gäz’ = gaze]. a 1577 Gascoigne Dan Bartholomew Wks. (1587) 83, I find it [a bracelet] fazed almost quite in sunder. 1647 A. Farindon Serm. Pref. 28 The Schoolmen did feaze and draw it out, and then made it up into knots. 1721–1800 Bailey, Feazing [Sea Term] is the Ravelling out of a Cable, or any great Rope at the Ends. 1813 W. Leslie View Nairn Gloss., Feaze, to have the woof at the end of a piece of cloth or ribband rubbed out from the warp. 1825 Jamieson, ‘That thread 'll no go through the eye of the needle; its a' feazed at the point.’ ‘Get a verrule put to your staff, the end o't's a' faiz'd.’ 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Feaze, to untwist, to unlay ropes; to tease, to convert it into oakum. |
2. intr. (see quot.)
| 1813 W. Leslie View Nairn Gloss. 454 Feaze, to have the edge of a razor..turned to a side, instead of being blunted by use. |
Hence ˈfeazings vbl. n. pl.; Sc. fais-, faizins.
| 1825 Jamieson, Faizins, Faisins. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Feazings, the fagging out or unravelling of an unwhipped rope. |
▪ II. † feaze, v.2 Obs. rare—1.
(See quot.)
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees) 97 Such olde sheepe and lambes as doe shoote are to be..feased, i.e. to have all the woll under theire tayle..clipped away. |
▪ III. feaze, v.3
var. faze v.
▪ IV. feaze
var. of feeze n.