Forms: 3 fl, 3–8 fy, (4 fyȝ), 5–9 fye, 6–7 phy, 5– fie. [ME. fi, fy, app. a. OF. fi, fy (mod.F. fi):—L. fī, an imitation of the sound instinctively made on perceiving a disagreeable smell. Cf. ON. fý (Da. fy, also fy sham dig, fie shame to you! Sw. fy), of similar origin.
The ON. may possibly be a joint source of the Eng. word, but the early instances either occur in translations from Fr. or imitate the Fr. construction fi de.]
1. An exclamation expressing, in early use, disgust or indignant reproach. No longer current in dignified language; said to children to excite shame for some unbecoming action, and hence often used to express the humorous pretence of feeling ‘shocked.’ Sometimes more fully Fie, for shame! Const. † of (= on), on, upon.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 390. ‘Fy a debles,’ quaþ þe kyng.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 611.
| On yow nas never help at nede, | |
| Fy on ow everichon! |
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1578. ‘Fy,’ quaþ Moradas, ‘wat ert þow; þat telest of me so lyte?’
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s Prol., 80. Of all swiche cursed stories I say fy. Ibid., Nun’s Pr. T., 71. Ye ben a very sleper, fy for shame.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xlvi. Chastitee hateth me also and whan she seeth me seith fy.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxii. 103. Fye on hym, dastard!
1509. Hawes, The Pastime of Pleasure, XI. xxxv.
| Fy upon slouth, the nourysher of vyce, | |
| Whych unto youth doth often prejudice. |
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., III. iv. (Arb.), 52.
| M. Mery. What weepe? Fye for shame! And blubber? For manhod’s sake, | |
| Never letter your foe so muche pleasure of you take. |
1583. Babington, Commandm., ix. 476. Fie of that affection that damneth our soules, wo worth the gayne, that getteht vs hell.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 611.
| Fie, fie, he saies, you crush me, let me go, | |
| You have no reason to withhold me so. |
1606. Sir. G. Goosecappe, III. ii., in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 53.
| Mom. Fie for shame; | |
| I never heard of such an antedame. |
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, iv. 113. Phy! how depraved is mans nature altogether! otherwise there were no need of Laws.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VIII. ix. Fy upon it, Mr. Partridge … are you afraid of facing a little cold?
1764. Foote, Mayor of G., II. i. Fye Mr. Bruin, how can you be such a bear to your wife.
1832. Lytton, Eugene A., I. ii. Fie, neighbour, fie, what’s the good of profaneness.
1861. T. A. Trollope, La Beata, II. xiv. 111. ‘Fie!’ said Beppina in a state of great delight.
2. quasi-sb. † a. qualified by an adj.: as Double, much fie (obs.). b. as obj. in To cry († bid, † spit) fie upon.
c. 1550. R. Weaver, Lusty Juventus, in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 87. Now much fie upon you! how bawdy you are!
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (1878), 173. Fie and double fie upon the impudency of this nameless and shameless divine.
1599. Breton, Author’s Dreame. Follie, he badde Fie upon Wisdome.
1652. J. Sparrow, trans. Behme’s Rem. Wks., Def. agst. Rickter, 13. The Libeller spits Fy, and filth, against the Repentance.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xvii. ‘My relations won’t cry fie upon me,’ Becky said.
3. as sb.
1576. Gascoigne, Philomene, in Wks. 1870, II. 245.
| These phyes, and many moe, | |
| Pore Philomene may meane, | |
| And in hir selfe she findes percase, | |
| Some phy that was vncleane. |
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Ordinary, IV. v., in Hazl., Dodsl., XII. 298.
| I will not tell what shrieks and cries, | |
| What angry pishes, and what fies, | |
| What pretty oaths then newly born, | |
| The list’ning taper heard there sworn. |
1820. Scott, Monast., I. ii. 105. The child reddened, looked sulky, and hesitated, while the mother, with many a fye and nay pshaw, and such sarsenet chidings as tender mothers give to spoiled children.
