Forms: 8–9 feigh, 9 fay, feagh, fee. [f. FAY v.2] The clearings from the surface; the surface soil, the dross of metals.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., M j. This [the Limp] the Washers use for to throw off the Feigh from the Ore out of the Sive.
1802. Mawe, Mineral. Derbysh., Gloss., 204. Feigh. The refuse washed from the lead ore.
1839. Murchison, Silur. Syst., I. iii. 40. Fee, pronounced ‘Fay,’ a red rubbly thin-bedded rock, with some marl.
1884. Cheshire Gloss., Fay, Fee, the surface soil in contradistinction to the sub-soil.
1893. Surveyors’ Institution, Professional Notes, V. 66. They commenced removing the surface soil, or ‘fey.’
