▪ I. † foin, n.1 Obs.
Forms: 4–7 foyn(e, 5 fooyne, fune, Sc. fonȝe, founȝe, foynȝe(e, funȝe, 6 fowyng, fouoyne, 6–8 foin(e.
[a. OF. foine (Fr. fouine), altered form (after OF. fou:—L. fāgum beech) of faïne:—late L. fāgīna, f. fāg-um; the animal was so named from its feeding on beech-mast.]
1. An animal of the polecat or weasel kind; the beech-marten (Mustela foina).
| 1423 Jas. I. Kingis Q. clvii, There sawe I..The martrik sable; the foynzee, and mony mo. 1550 J. Coke Eng. & Fr. Heralds §213 (1877) 118 We have marterns, foynes..squerelles, etc. 1619 Middleton Triumphs Love & Antiq. Wks. V. 289 The names of those beasts bearing fur..Ermine, foine, sables, martin [etc.]. |
2. The fur of this animal; in pl., trimmings or garments made of the fur.
| c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 295 A cote haþ he furred, Wiþ foyns, or wiþ fitchewes. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 150 Ffurris of ffoyne and oþer ffelle-ware. 1493 in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 30 Item 100 rygis of fownȝes. 1562 in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 426 note, Anye kind of furs in their gownes, but onlye foynes and budge. 1641 Triumph Chas. I in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) V. 96 About eighty comely and grave citizens, in foins and liveries. 1718 Ozell Tournefort's Voy. II. 376 The French Foines are much in esteem there. |
3. attrib. and Comb., as foin(s-back, foin-skin, foin-tail, etc.; foins-bachelor, one of a company dressed in gowns trimmed with foins, who took part in London civic processions (see bachelor 2); foins-gown, one trimmed with foins.
| 1561 in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. vi. 189 My gowne..faced with *foyne backes. 1612 Sc. Bk. Customs in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 306 Furres called..Foynes—backes..tailes..powtes. |
| 1681 T. Jordan Lond. Joy 1 A youthful number of *Foyns Batchellors. |
| 1692 Lond. Gaz. No. 2812/4 Also *Foins Gowns, and Scarlet Hoods for Rich Batchelors. |
| 1718 Ozell Tournefort's Voy. II. 376 These *Foine-Skins. |
▪ II. foin, n.2
(fɔɪn)
Forms: see vb.
[f. foin v.]
1. A thrust or push with a pointed weapon. to cast a foin at: to make a thrust at. Obs. or arch.
| c 1450 Fencing w. two handed Sword in Rel. Ant. I. 309 Thy quarters abowte, Thy stoppis, thy foynys. 1558 T. Phaer æneid vii. U iv, They..fight with foyne of pointed speare. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. xii. (1593) 284 Sir Dryant with a stake..did cast at him a foine, And thrust him through. c 1570 Marr. Wit & Science v. iv, Kepe at the foyne; come not wythin his reache. 1638 Heywood Wise Woman iv. Wks. 1874 V. 330, I had my wards, and foynes, and quarter-blowes. 1814 Southey Roderick xxv. 400 Many a foin and thrust Aimed, and rebated. |
| fig. 1589 Pappe w. Hatchet B ij, I thought that hee which thrust at the bodie in game, would one day cast a foyne at the soule in earnest. c 1610 J. Davies Scourge Folly (Grosart) 10/2 They with foynes of wit, The foes of their vpholders home do hit. |
† b. A wound made by such a stroke. Obs.
| 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. iii. i. xv. 107 This playstre..is convenient at the begynnyng of a foyne. 1576 Baker Jewell of Health 66 a, The water..healeth all maner of woundes..foynes or cuttes. |
† 2. = foil n.5 Obs.
| [1631 Gouge God's Arrows 206 Such recreations as..playing at wasters and foines.] 1656 Osborn Adv. Son 22 The vast difference between a Foyn and a Sword. 1701 Collier M. Aurel. Life p. 1, Ordering the [Gladiators] to fight with Foins, or Buttons upon their Swords. |
▪ III. foin, v.
(fɔɪn)
Forms: 4–7 foyn(e(n, (4 foygne, Sc. funȝe), 6–7 foine, 5– foin.
[app. f. OFr. foine, foisne, fouisne (Fr. fouine), a three-pronged fish-spear:—L. fuscina in same sense.
This etymology involves some difficulties, as there is no evidence of the adoption of the n. in Eng., nor of the existence of any OF. verb *foisnier, foinier.]
1. intr. To make a thrust with a pointed weapon, or with the point of a weapon; to lunge, push. Often to foin at (a person) or with (a weapon). arch.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce viii. 307 Thai..Fwnȝeit and fawcht all sturdely. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1494 They..ffoynes faste att þe fore breste with flawmande swerdez. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 274 With speres ferisly they foynede. 1565 Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 571 Ye foine only at your owne shadow, and hit nothing. 1635 N. R. Camden's Hist. Eliz. iii. 353 That deadly manner of foyning with the rapier. 1700 Dryden Palamon & Arc. ii. 196 They lash, they foin, they pass, they strive to bore Their Corslets. 1826 Scott Woodst. xviii, The fellow foins well. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! (1861) 49 Foining with his point. |
| transf. and fig. a 1562 G. Cavendish Wolsey in Wordsworth Eccl. Biog. (1839) I. 527 The boare continually foining at him with his great tuskes. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 101 He whetteth his Horne..and in his fight wardeth and foyneth at the Elephant his bellye. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. ii. ix. 211 Heat, and..Cold, are always persecuting and foyning at the weaker..parts of Nature. |
† 2. trans. To thrust at, stab, pierce, prick.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 5640 Foygnede hym with þat knyf. 1520 Caxton's Chron. Eng. vii. 118/2 They..foyned theym with theyr swerdes and speres thrugh theyr bodyes. 1548 Patten Exped. Scot. I iiij b, Lashe at þe legges of þe horse, or foyne him in þe belly. |
| transf. c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 428 Þat fele hit [a head] foyned wyth her fete. |
Hence ˈfoining vbl. n. and ppl. a.; ˈfoiningly adv.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 10287 Fell was the fight foynyng of speires. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccclxxiii. 617 With their foyninge the Englyssheman was ouerthrowen to the erthe. 1558 T. Phaer æneid vii, Borespeares longe they whirle, or foynyng forks. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado v. i. 84 Sir boy, ile whip you from your foyning fence. 1618 Fletcher Loyal Subj. i. iv, Are you afraid of foining? 1620 Thomas Lat. Dict., Punctim..foiningly, pointingly. 1628 Wither Brit. Rememb. iii. 945 The capring Dancer, and the foining Fencer. |