faints, n. pl.
(feɪnts)
Also 9 feints.
[pl. of faint a. (quasi-n.).]
The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the process of distillation. Also attrib.
| 1743 Maxwell Sel. Trans. 295 Is it not a great Fault among Distillers, to allow any of the Faints to run among their pure Goods? 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art II. 580 The latter part of this running being weak, is called feints. 1883 J. Gardner Brewer, Distiller etc. v. 146 The remaining weak spirit that distils over, called faints, is caught separately. |
| attrib. 1880 Act 43–4 Vict. c. 24 Sched. 1, A low wines and feints charger must be connected with the still. Ibid. 24 §3 Spirits conveyed into a feints receiver. |