Fermerer, sb. infirmary officer, Cath.  See Enfermerere.

Fermery, sb. infirmary, S3, Voc.; fermorie, PP; fermory, Cath.; fermarye, Cath. (n.); fermerye, Prompt., Cath. (n.).—­OF. enfermerie, infirmarie, infirmerie; Church Lat. infirmaria, a place for the infirm (Ducange).

Fermour, sb. farmer, steward, CM, MD; fermer, Cath.  See Ferme, sb.

Fern, sb. fern, C2; ferene, dat., S2. Phr.:  aisschen of ferne, fern ashes, MD. Comb.:  fern-asshen, fern ashes, C2.—­AS. fearn (Voc.):  OHG. farn.

Fern, adj. and adv. old, long ago, C2, PP; ferne, CM; furn, MD. Comb.:  fern-*3*eres, past years; fern yere, formerly, PP.—­AS. fyrn (see Sievers); cp.  OS. furn, forn, fern, Goth. fairnis.

Ferreden, sb. company, S; uerade, S. See 3*efered.

Ferren, adj. and adv. far, distant, MD; feren, S; verrenne, pl., S; ferne, C.—­AS. feorran, from afar.  See Fer.

Ferret-silke, sb. coarse silk, S3, Florio.—­It. fioretti, from fiA cubedre, flower.  Cf. Floret-silk.

Fers, adj. fierce, brave, Prompt., C, PP; fiers, S2, C2, C3; fierse, PP.—­OF. fers, fiers (Roland); Lat. ferus.

Fersly, adv. fiercely, PP, B..

Fersnesse sb. fierceness, W2, PP; feersnesse, W, W2.

Ferst, adj. and adv. superl. first, S, S2, PP; uerst, S2; furst, S, S2, P; forst, S.—­AS. fyrst:  OHG. furisto.  Superl. of Fore.

Ferthe, ord. fourth, C3, PP; fierthe, PP, S; feorthe, PP, S; feurthe, S2; ferth, S2; fierth, S2; ueorA deg., S.—­AS. fA(C)orA deg.a.  See Foure.

Ferthyng, sb. farthing, S2, PP; ferthing, PP. Comb.:  ferA3/4inges nok, a farthing piece, S2 (p. 301); ferA3/4yng noke, S2.—­AS. fA(C)orA deg.ung.

Fertre, sb. litter, bier, shrine, MD; feertyr, feretrum, Prompt.—­OF. fertere, fiertre; Lat. feretrum; Gr. [Greek:  phA(C)retron].

Fertren, v. to place in a shrine; fertered, pt. s., S2.

Fesaunt, sb. pheasant, S3; fesant, Voc.; fesauntes, pl., PP; fesauns, S2.—­OF. faisan; Lat. phasianum (acc.); Gr. [Greek:  phasianA cubeds].

Fesien, v. to drive away, MD; fesyn, Prompt., HD; veize, DG; pheeze, ND, Sh; feazed, _pp_., ND.—­AS. fA(C)sian, for fA1/2sian, to drive away, see Sievers, 154.  See Fusen.