arch. [a. OF. feal, altered form (by substitution of suffix: see -AL) of fecil:—L. fidēlem faithful, f. fidēs faith.] Faithful, firm in allegiance, constant.
1568. A. Scott in Bannatyne Poems, 251.
| Prent the wordis … | |
| Quhilkis ar nocht skar to bar on far frae bawrdis, | |
| Bot leale, but feale, may haell, avaell thy Grace. |
c. 1575. Balfour’s Practicks (1754), 243. Quhen ane tenent makis fealtie to his Lord, he sould … say … ‘Hear ze, my Lord, I sall be leill and feal to zou.’
1603. J. Savile, A Salutatory Poem to James I., in Arb., Garner, V. 630.
| France, and froward Ireland, with our English land, | |
| Are feal subjects to your royal hand. |
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Feal, the Tenants by Knights-Service us’d to swear to their Lord to be Feal and Leal, i. e. Faithful and Loyal.
1814. Scott, Wav., xix. His right feal, trusty, and well-beloved cousin. Ibid. (1827) Jrnl. (1890), II. 15. My old and feal friend James.
