Obs. Forms: 4 feute, (foute, fuyt), 5 feaute, fewte, (fute). [ad. OF. fuite ‘voies du cerf qui fuit’ (Littré), f. fuir:—L. fugĕre to flee. Cf. FEWE, FUSE.] The traces or track (of an animal).

1

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1424.

        Þe howndeȝ þat hit herde, hastid þider swyþe,
& fellen as fast to þe fuyt, fourty at ones.

2

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 33.

        Þe couherdes hound þat time · as happe by-tidde,
Feld foute of þe child · and fast þider fulwes.
    Ibid., 2189.
Whan þe houndes hadde feute · of þe hende best.

3

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 159. Fewte, vestigium.

4

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VI. xiv. In a depe forest where he saw a black brachet sekyng in maner as it had ben in the feaute of an hurt dere.

5