▪ I. † fow, v. Obs.
Also 7 foe.
[a. ON. fága: see fay v.2]
trans. To clean, cleanse (out). Also fig.
| 13.. Sir Beues 1120 (MS. A.) Beter be-come þe iliche, For to fowen an olde diche Þanne for to be dobbed kniȝt. c 1350 Med. MS. in Archæologia XXX. 351 Chyldys vryne þin ere fowe, And helpe þin ere on a throwe. c 1440 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 266 Take mekenes in herte, & þat schal fowyn out all trouble and vnreste. 1530 Palsgr. 557/2 Thou shalte eate no buttered fysshe with me, tyll thou wasshe thy handes, for thou hast fowed a gonge late. 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter i. 10 They are only good, when on the sabbath day they are fowing tap-houses. |
Hence † ˈfowing vbl. n. Also † ˈfower, one who cleanses.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 174/2 Foware, or clensare of donge, as gongys, and oþer lyke, fimarius, oblitor. Ibid. 175/1 Fowynge, or clensynge, emundacio. 1636 James Iter Lanc. (Chetham Soc.) 9 note, He had found six thousand infants' heads in the foing of his fish ponds. |
▪ II. fow
var. of fou a. Sc., full, drunk.
▪ III. † fow(e
Obs. A kind of fur. See faw a. 2.