Obs. [The writer of Ludus Anglicorum (see quot. c. 1330) connects the word with FAIL v.; the game being usually decided by the failure of one of the players to make a throw that would enable him to move. Godef. has two examples of the OF. phrase jouer a la faille, which, though figurative, may contain an allusion to this game.] An obsolete form of Back-gammon.
c. 1330. Ludus Anglicorum, in Royal MS., 13. A. xviii. 158 a. Est et alius ludus qui vocatur Faylys. [The game is described at length.]
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., III. iii.
| Hee’ll play | |
| At Fayles, and Tick-tack; I have heard him swear. |
