† ficche, v. Obs.
Forms: 4–5 fitch(en, (ficchyn, fichch, fichene, fycche), ficche, fich, (5 fychch), 4–6 fych(e.
[a. OF. fichier (mod.F. ficher) = Pr. ficar, Sp. hincar, fincar, ficar, Pg. fincar, ficar, It. ficcare: referred by Diez to a popular L. *fīgicare, extension of L. fīgĕre to fix.]
1. trans. To fix, fasten, make firm, establish; both in a material and an immaterial sense.
| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 658 Alle þese fyue syþez..were..fyched upon fyue poyntes. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. iv. 45 Haue mynde certeynly to ficchyn þi house of a myrie site in a lowe stoone. 1382 Wyclif Josh. iv. 3 In the place of tentis, where ȝe this nyȝt fitchen tentis. 1412–13 Hoccleve Counsel to Hen. V, 9 God dreede and ficche in him your trust. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy v. xxxvi, To fyche fynally the date. c 1477 Caxton Jason 94 Whan she hadde put al these thinges in a balance and fiched in her engyn she began to recomforte medea. [1530 Palsgr. 549/1, I Fyche (Lydgat), I stedye or make ferme or stedfaste, Je fiche. This terme is nat yet [i.e. no longer] admytted.] |
b. To stud, furnish with something infixed.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Catharina 852 Foure quhelis..Of þe quhilkis þe felyis all With scharpe houkis fichit be sall. 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle iii. iv. (1483) 52 The compas of this whele was fitched ful of hokes. |
2. To pierce, penetrate; lit. and fig.
| 1388 Wyclif Ps. xxxiv. 16 Thei ben scaterid and not ficchid with sorewe. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2098 Thay flitt fulle frescly þer frekez, ffichene with fetheris thurghe þe fyne maylez. ? a 1400 Arthur 462 Quarels, arwes, þey fly smerte; Þe fyched Men þruȝ heed & herte. |
Hence ˈficching vbl. n., in quot. concr. the place where anything is fixed, the ‘print’.
| 1382 Wyclif John xx. 25, I schal se in his hondis the ficching of naylis. |