▪ I. † ˈfeal, n. Sc. Obs.
Also 6 feeall, feall, 7 fiell.
[In sense 1 perh. originally a subst. use of next adj., with the sense ‘one who owes fealty’; but it appears to have been interpreted as if f. fee n.2 or v. + -al1, and this derivation prob. gave rise to the other senses. Cf. OF. fieal pertaining to a fief (f. fié = fief), and med.L. fealiter (Du Cange) = feodaliter ‘by feudal law’.]
1. a. A feudal tenant, vassal, liegeman. b. A servant ‘feed’ or hired for a term.
| a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. (1846) I. 123 The Cardinallis baner was that day displayed, and all his feeallis war charged to be under it. c 1575 Balfour's Practicks (1754) 127 All tenentis..haldand landis of ane Baron, sould swear..that thay sall be leill fealis to him. 1663 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1851) II 280 Commanding all prenteissis, seruandis, fiellis, not to change their maisteris. |
2. The condition of being held in fee.
| 1478 Acts Lords of Council (1839) 10 Þe persones that has the landis in the Levenax in feale of þe lord Glammys. 1630–56 Sir R. Gordon Hist. Earls Sutherld. (1813) 253 John Gray of Skibo had the lands of Ardinch in fiall from John..Earle of Sowtherland. |
3. A payment due to the lord of the fee; also gen. a periodical payment, stipend, pension.
| 1543 Sc. Acts Q. Mary (1814) 439/1 To gidder with þe fealis of þe chantorie and denrie of Glasgw..pertenying to þe said lord for his fee. 1581 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) 245 Exceptand..the gift and feall grantit by ws till..Gilbert Prymrois..for all the dayis of his lyf. 1607 Jas. VI MS. Let. to Ld. Scone (Jam.), There being a particular yeirlye feall appointed to him for the discharge of the said office. |
| attrib. 1581 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) 236 The saidis abbot and convent ar nocht able to pay the feall thride of the said abbay according to the first assumptioun. |
▪ II. feal, a. arch.
(fiːl)
[a. OF. feal, altered form (by substitution of suffix: see -al1) of feeil:—L. fidēlem faithful, f. fidēs faith.]
Faithful, firm in allegiance, constant.
| 1568 A. Scott in Bannatyne Poems 251 Prent the wordis..Quhilkis ar nocht skar, to bar on far frae bowrdis, Bot leale, bot feale, may haell, avaell thy Grace. c 1575 Balfour's Practicks (1754) 243 Ane tenent..sould..say..Hear ze, my Lord, I sall be leill and feal to zou. 1603 J. Savile Salut. Poem Jas. I in Arb. Garner V. 636 France, and froward Ireland..Are feal subjects to your royal hand. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Feal, the Tenants by Knights-Service us'd to swear to their Lord to be Feal and Leal, i.e. Faithful and Loyal. 1814 Scott Wav. xix, His right feal, trusty, and well-beloved cousin. 1827 ― Jrnl. (1890) II. 15 My old and feal friend James. |
▪ III. feal, v. north. dial.
(fiːl)
Also 4–5 fele.
[A northern and north midland word, a. ON. fela to hide, also to commit, commend = Goth. filhan to hide, bury:—OTeut. *felhan, str. vb. (pret. falh-, pa. pple. *folgano-). In ME. and mod. dialects always conjugated weak.
App. equivalent in form, though the relation in sense is obscure, are OE. féolan (fealh, folgen) to stick fast, to reach, attain, OHG. felahan to put together. The compound vb. OE. bi-féolan to entrust, commit, command, corresponds in form and sense to OFris. bifella, OS. bifelhan (Du. bevelen), OHG. bifelahan (MHG. bevelhen, mod.G. befehlen).]
trans. To hide, conceal.
| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 3 In al thing es he nouht lele That Godes gift fra man will fele [printed sele]. Ibid. 12 For his [Christ's] Godhed in fleis was felid Als hok in bait. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3237 Thurghe that foreste I flede..ffor to fele me for ferde of tha foule thyngez. c 1460 Towneley Myst. 67 My counsellars so..No wyt from me ye fele. 1570 Levins Manip. 207/30 To Feale, velare, abscondere. 1664 Flodden F. vii. 1899 The smothering smoak the light so feald, That neither Army other saw. 1674 Ray N.C. Words (1691) 17 He that feals can find. 1721–1800 in Bailey. 1873 in Swaledale Gloss. |
▪ IV. feal
var. of fail n.1, q.v. Chiefly in the law-phrase feal and divot: see divot.