Obs. exc. Naut. Forms: 6 faze, 9 faize, 8– feaze. [In some way related to OE. fæs (see FAS) fringe; possibly as a naut. term f. MDu. vese, veze fringe, frayed edge, which is related by ablaut to the OE. word.]
1. a. trans. To unravel (a rope), etc. b. intr. Of a rope or thread: To unravel at the end. Also of a stick: To wear rough at the end.
1568. Sir T. Smith, De recta Ling. Angl. Script., 31 b. Fäz, in fila diducere [Smith’s ‘fäz’ = faze; cf. ‘gäz’ = gaze].
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Dan Bartholomew, Wks. (1587), 83. I find it [a bracelet] fazed almost quite in sunder.
1647. Faringdon, Serm., Pref. 28. The Schoolmen did feaze and draw it out, and then made it up into knots.
1721–1800. Bailey, Feazing [Sea Term] is the Ravelling out of a Cable, or any great Rope at the Ends.
1813. W. Leslie, View Nairn, Gloss., 454. Feaze.… To have the woof at the end of a piece of cloth, or ribband rubbed out from the warp.
1825. Jamieson, ‘That thread ’ll no go through the eye of the needle; its a’ feazed at the point.’ ‘Get a verrule put to your staff, the end o’t’s a’ faiz’d.’
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Feaze, to untwist, to unlay ropes; to tease, to convert it into oakum.
2. intr. (see quot.)
1813. W. Leslie, View Nairn, Gloss., 454. Feaze. To have the edge of a razor, or other sharp instrument irregularly turned to a side, instead of being blunted by use.
Hence Feazings vbl. sb. pl.; Sc. fais-, faizins.
1825. Jamieson, Faizins, Faisins.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Feazings, the fagging out or unravelling of an unwhipped rope.
