1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.
Ferreting, subs. (venery).—The act of connection.
Ferret Out, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be at pains to penetrate a
mystery of any kind by working underground.
Ferricadouzer, subs. (pugilist).—A knock-down blow; a thrashing. [From
the Italian fare cadere, to cause to fall + dosso, back.] For synonyms,
see Dig.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 244.
Then there wasn’t no risk with Haynan ... no fear of a
ferricadouzer for the butcher.... What does it mean? It means a
denskitch (a good thrashing).
Fess, verb (colloquial).—To confess; to own up. Fr., norguer.
Adj. (school).—Proud.
Festive, adj. (colloquial).—Loud; fast; a kind of general utility word.
Gay and festive cuss (Artemus Ward) = a rollicking companion.
Fetch, subs. (old).—1. A stratagem; indirectly bringing something to
pass.
1576. J. Skelton, Merie Tales, xiii. Yea sayde Skelton, if thou
have such pretie fetchis, you can dooe more then thys; and
therefore if thou dooeste not one thynge that I shel tell thee, I
wil folowe the lawe on thee. What is that sayde the Myller. If that
thou dooeste not stele my cuppe of the table when I am sette atte
meate thou shalt not eskape my handes.
1727. John Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act II., Scene 2. Mac. Be pacified,
my dear Lucy; this is all a fetch of Polly’s, to make me desperate
with you, in case I get off. If I am hanged, she would fain have
the credit of being thought my widow. Really, Polly, this is no
time for a dispute of this sort; for whenever you are talking of
marriage, I am thinking of hanging.
1780. Mrs. Cowley, Belle’s Stratagem, v. 1. Why, my illness was
only a fetch, man, to make you marry Letty.
1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 19. But as Cicero says he won’t
say this or that (a fetch, I must say, most transparent and flat),
After saying whate’er he could possibly think of.