▪ I. † ˈfinew, n. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 6 fenowe, 7–8 finnow, finew, 8 vinew, vinnow, 9 dial. vinny.
[f. finew v.]
Mouldiness, mould.
| 1556 Withals Dict. N ij a/1 Fenow or horenesse in bread, mucor, -coris. 1658 Evelyn Fr. Gard. (1675) 230 Endamaging the beans by a musty finnow, which bespots them. 1669 Boyle Contn. New Exp. ii. (1868) 68 The fruits were covered with a kind of mucor or Finew. a 1722 Lisle Observ. Husb. (1757) Gloss., Vinnow, mouldiness. |
▪ II. † ˈfinew, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 6–7 fenow, finnew, vinew, 8 finnow, 9 dial. vinny.
[OE. fyneᵹian, f. fyniᵹ mouldy (see finny a.2), f. fyne: see fen n.2]
a. intr. To become mouldy or musty. b. trans. To cause to become mouldy. Also fig.
| c 1000 Canons ælfric §36 Þæt þæt haliᵹe husel sceole fyneᵹian. 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 30 Secretes which he suffered to mould and vinew within it. a 1633 S. Lennard tr. Charron's Wisd. i. xxxi. §1 (1670) 88 With time it [sadness] rusteth and fenoweth the soul. a 1722 Lisle Observ. Husb. (1757) 206 Whereby the undermost corn..finnows [marg. gloss molds]. |
Hence ˈfinewing vbl. n.
| 1552 Huloet, Vinewing, or molinge of breade or wyne for stalenes, mucor. 1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. (1634) 174 It [syrup of violets] may be kept a year without finnewing or corruption. |