Not in decent use. Also 5 fert(e, fartt, 5–6 farte. [f. the vb.; cf. OHG. firz, furz, mod.G. farz, ON. fretr.] A breaking wind. Often in let († let flee) a fart.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 620.
| This Nicholas anon let fleen a FART | |
| As gret as it had been a thonder dint. |
14[?]. Madman’s Song, in Rel. Ant., I. 260. Onys I fley and let a fert.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 21.
| I shall geat a fart of a dead man as soone | |
| As a farthyng of him, his dole is soone doone. |
1650. J. Bulwer, Anthropometamorphosis, 220. The Guineans are very careful not to let a fart.
1728. Swift, Dial. Mad. Mullinix & Timothy.
| In doleful scenes that break our heart | |
| Punch comes, like you, and lets a fart. |
1825. Thurlow, Ess. Wind, 6. There are five or six different species of farts.
† b. As a type of something worthless. Obs.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 16. Bi alle men set I not a farte.
1642. In Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 233. If the king had commanded a fast hee wold then have kept it, but because a compane of puritanicall fellowes had appoynted it, hee wold keepe none, nor cared not a f—’t for it.
1685. Crowne, Sir Courtly Nice, V. Cr. What do I care for your family? If I may not bring a friend into your family, a fart for your family.
† 2. A ball of light pastry, a ‘puff.’ Obs. [Cf. F. pet ‘beignet en boule.’]
1552. Huloet, Fartes of Portingale, or other like swete conceites, collybia.
