Obs. In pl. 6–7 fusses, fusts. [ad. It. fusto lit. ‘stick.’ Cf. F. fût de girofle.
With the plural form fusses cf. dial. fisses for fists. It is somewhat doubtful whether the first quot. belongs to this word.]
(See quot. 1657.)
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. (E.E.T.S.), 240. Moche worth is the lytwary y-makyd of fuste and aloes, for that fuste confortyth the stomake … Then sethe he fuste in wynne, and drynke hit erly.
1597. Gerarde, Herball, III. cxliv. 1352. Those grosse kinde of Cloues … which of the ancients are called Fusti, whereof we haue englished them Fusses.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, cxxxiv. 199. Those [Cloves] that do abide longer on the trees do grow some what thicker and greater, and are not of half the others goodness being called by most Fusses, yet some call the stalks of the Cloves Fusses. Ibid., Table … Fusses or Fusts.
