Forms: 4–7 foyn(e(n, (4 foygne, Sc. furnȝe, 6–7 foine, 5– foin. [app. f. OFr. foine, foisne, fouisne (Fr. fouine), a three-pronged fish-spear:—L. fuscina in same sense.
This etymology involves some difficulties, as there is no evidence of the adoption of the sb. in Eng., nor of the existence of any OF. verb *foisnier, foinier.]
1. intr. To make a thrust with a pointed weapon, or with the point of a weapon; to lunge, push. Often to foin at (a person) or with (a weapon). arch.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 307. Thai … Fwnȝeit and fawcht all sturdely.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1494. They … ffoynes faste att þefore breste with flawmande swerdez.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 274.
| And whan the batelle enjoined, | |
| With speres ferisly they foynede. |
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 571. With all this great ado, ye foine only at your owne shadow, and hit nothing.
1635. N. R., Camden’s Hist. Eliz., III. 353. That deadly manner of foyning with the rapier in single fight.
1700. Dryden, Palamon & Arcite, II. 196.
| They lash, they foin, they pass, they strive to bore | |
| Their Corslets, and the thinnest Parts explore. |
1826. Scott, Woodst., xviii. The fellow foins well.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! (1861), 49. Foining with his point.
transf. and fig. a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey, in Wordsworth, Eccl. Biog. (1839), I. 527. The boare continually foining at him with his great tuskes, so that at the last he was faine to pitche his javelin in the ground betwene him and the boare, the which the boare brake with his force and foining.
1567. J. Maplet, A Greene Forest, or a Naturall Historie, 101. He whetteth his Horne against sharpe stones, & then setteth on: and in his fight wardeth and foyneth at the Elephant his bellye.
1677. Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, II. ix. 211. Heat, and also in some degree Cold, are always persecuting and foyning at the weaker and more unactive parts of Nature.
† 2. trans. To thrust at, stab, pierce, prick.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5640. Foygnede hym with þat knyf.
1520. Caxton’s Chron. Eng., VII. 118/2. They … foyned theym with theyr swerdes and speres thrugh theyr bodyes.
1548. Patten, Exped. Scotl., I iiij b. Lashe at þe legges of þe horse, or foyne him in þe belly.
transf. c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 428. Þat fele hit [a head] foyned wyth her fete.
Hence Foining vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; Foiningly adv.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10287. Ffell was the fight foynyng of speires.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxiii. 617. With their foyninge the Englyssheman was ouerthrowen to the erthe.
1558. Phaer, Æneid, VII. Borespeares longe they whirle, or foynyng forks.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 84. Sir boy, ile whip you from your foyning fence.
1618. Fletcher, Loyal Subj., I. iv. Are you afraid of foining?
1620. Thomas, Lat. Dict., Punctim … foiningly, pointingly.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., III. 943.
| Behold, a frothy Masque, an idle Song, | |
| The witlesse jesting of a scurrilous tongue, | |
| The capring Dancer, and the foining Fencer, | |
| The bold Buffoone, the flye Intelligencer. |
