▪ I. † fnast, n. Obs.
[OE. fnǽst str. masc., f. root of ON. fnasa, fnása to snort, breathe hard.]
Breath.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 100 Hyt bring[ð] forð þane fnæst. a 1250 Owl & Night. 44 Wel neȝ hire fnast at-schet. |
▪ II. † fnast, v. Obs. rare.
[OE. *fnǽstian, f. prec.; cf. OHG. fnâstôn.]
intr. To breathe hard, pant; also quasi-trans. to breathe out (fire).
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 242 Fnæstiað swiðe. c 1300 Havelok 548 He [ne] mouthe speke, ne fnaste, Hwere he wolde him bere or lede. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1702 His felaȝes fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike. c 1400 Destr. Troy 878 Þe orible oxin..þat fyre out fnast. |
Hence ˈfnasting vbl. n., breathing, snorting.
| 1382 Wyclif Jer. viii. 16 Fro Dan is herd the fnesting of his hors. c 1400 Destr. Troy 171 These balfull bestes were..ffull flaumond of fyre with fnastyng of logh. |