Obs. Forms: 4–7 foyn(e, 5 fooyne, fune, Sc. fonȝe, founȝe, foynȝe(e, funȝe, 6 fowyng, fouoyne, 6–8 foin(e. [a. OF. foine (Fr. fouine), altered form (after OF. fou:—L. fāgum beech) of faïne:—late L. fāgīna, f. fāg-um; the animal was so named from its feeding on beech-mast.]

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  1.  An animal of the polecat or weasel kind; the beech-marten (Mustela foina).

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1423.  Jas. I., Kingis Q., clvii.

        There sawe I …
  The martrik sable; the foynȝee, and mony mo.

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1550.  J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Heralds, § 213 (1877), 118. We have marterns, foynes, blacke and gray conys, otters, fitches, squerelles, whyte and blacke lambe, with other kyndes of furres.

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1619.  Middleton, Triumphs Love & Antiq., Wks. V. 289. The names of those beasts bearing fur…. Ermine, foine, sables, martin [etc.].

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  2.  The fur of this animal; in plural, trimmings or garments made of the fur.

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c. 1394.  P. Pl. Crede, 294.

        And ȝet, vnder þat cope · a cote haþ he furred,
Wiþ foyns, or wiþ fitchewes · oþer fyn beuer.

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1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 150. Ffurris of ffoyne · and oþer ffelle-ware.

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1493.  in Halyburton’s Ledger (1867), 30. Item 100 rygis of fownȝes.

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1562.  in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 426, note. Anye kind of furs in their gownes, but onlye foynes and budge.

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1641.  Triumph Chas. I., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), V. 96. About eighty comely and grave citizens, in foins and liveries, standing and making a lane on both sides their passage.

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1718.  Ozell, Tournefort’s Voy., II. 376. The French Foines are much in esteem there, especially those of Dauphine, which are us’d for Furs.

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  3.  attrib. and Comb., as foin(s-back, -skin, -tail, etc.; foins-bachelor, one of a company dressed in gowns trimmed with foins, who took part in London civic processions (see BACHELOR 2); foins-gown, one trimmed with foins.

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1561.  in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. vi. 189. My gowne furred with white lame, and faced with *foyne backes.

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1612.  Sc. Bk. Customs, in Halyburton’s Ledger (1867), 306. Furres called … Foynes—backes the dozen … tailes the pane or mantle … powtes the hundreth.

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1681.  T. Jordan, London’s Joy, 1.

        In Gowns and Scarlet Hoods Thirdly appears
A youthful number of *Foyns Batchellors.

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1692.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2812/4. Also *Foins Gowns, and Scarlet Hoods for Rich Batchelors.

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1718.  Ozell, Tournefort’s Voy., II. 376. They use more of these *Foine-Skins, which are brought from Sicily, than of those which come from France.

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