faggot | fagot, n.
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Pronunciation:
/ˈfæɡət/
Forms:
ME faget(t, ME–15 faggott, ME fagatt, fagot(t, 15 fagget, Sc. faggat, ME– fagot, ME– faggot. See also fagald n.(Show Less)
Etymology:
< French fagot, of unknown origin; compare Italian fa(n)gotto.
1. A bundle of sticks, twigs, or small branches of trees bound together:
a. for use as fuel.
a1300 Cursor M. 3164
(Cott.)
,
Ȝong ysaac a fagett broght.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum
(1495)
xvii. cxlix. 703
Thornes..ben bounde in faggottes..and brent in ouens.
1478 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds
(1850)
77
The price of the c fagots iijs vjd.
1578 Gude & G. Ball.
(1868)
92
As the flame burning quhair it can find The faggat.
1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver vii. 42
Thou must take good greene Faggots.
1770 O. Goldsmith Deserted Village 133
To pick her wintry fagot from the thorn.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 128
Goody begg'd a helping hand To heave her rotten faggot up.
1866 J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices I. xviii. 424
In all probability the fagot was of very various sizes.
a1300—1866(Hide quotations)
†b. Mil. for use in fascines. Obs.
c1450
(▸c1400)
Sowdon of Babylon
(1881)
l. 285
Fagotis to hewe..And fille the dikes faste anoon.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxij,
Castyng faggottes into the diches.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 1064
[He] would oftentimes..carrie a fagot..before him..for the raising of the mount.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 165. ¶3
The Black Prince..filled a Ditch with Faggots as successfully as the Generals of our times do it with Fascines.
c1450—1711(Hide quotations)
2.
a. With special reference to the practice of burning heretics alive, esp. in phrase fire and faggot; †to fry a faggot , to be burnt alive; also, to bear a faggot , to carry a faggot , as those did who renounced heresy. Hence fig. the punishment itself.
a1555 H. Latimer Serm. & Remains
(1845)
277
Running out of Germany for fear of the fagot.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 44
You deserued to fry a fagot.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iii. v. 274
Fagots were never ordained by the Apostle for arguments to confute hereticks.
1667 M. Poole Dialogue between Popish Priest & Protestant
(1735)
101
You answer our Arguments with Fire and Faggot.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials I. viii. 86
He should go before the cross bare-headed..carrying a faggot on his shoulder.
1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind i. xiv. 195
Mitres or Faggots have been the Rewards of different Persons according as they pronounced these consecrated Syllables, or not pronounced them.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad iv. 144
Racks, wheels and crosses, faggots, stakes and strings.
1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 85
Wolsey caused them to carry a faggot to the fire..Henry placed them in the midst of actual faggots.
1888 J. Gairdner in Dict. National Biogr. XIII. 30/2
It is not easy to answer arguments in prison, with fire and faggots in the background.
a1555—1888(Hide quotations)
b. The embroidered figure of a faggot, which heretics who had recanted were obliged to wear on their sleeve, as an emblem of what they had merited.
1706 in Phillips's New World of Words
(ed. 6)
1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict.
1706—1823(Hide quotations)
3. In wider sense.
a. A bundle or bunch in general, e.g. of rushes, herbs, etc.
b. fig. A ‘bundle’, collection (of things not forming any genuine unity).
1489 Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xiv. 38
Fagotis and bondellis of rede.
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors xiii. sig. D1v,
Yet must he..pryuyly beare a fagot of russhes in his chamber.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ii. f. 5v,
They founde faggottes of the bones of mennes armes and legges.
1650 W. Cradock in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David
(1874)
IV. Ps. lxxxiii. 1
That he may..gather the wicked into one fagot..that they may be destroyed together.
1723 J. Nott Cook's & Confectioner's Dict. sig. D6v,
A Faggot of sweet Herbs.
1736 Compl. Family-piece i. ii. 94
A little Faggot of Thyme, Savory, and Parsley.
1742 H. Walpole Corr.
(ed. 3)
I. xxxviii. 154
My faggot of compliments.
1782 in Baker Biogr. Dram.
(1812)
iii. 260
A faggot of utter improbabilities.
1854 R. W. Emerson Quot. & Orig. in Wks.
(1906)
III. 214
The psalms and liturgies of churches are..a fagot of selections.
1906 Mrs. Beeton's Bk. Househ. Managem.
(rev. ed.)
lxi. 1638
The little bunch or fagot of herbs..usually consists of two or three sprigs of parsley, a sprig of thyme, and a bayleaf.
1960 Harper's Bazaar Oct. 153/1
The traditional faggot of mixed herbs.
1489—1960(Hide quotations)
4. A bundle of iron or steel rods bound together.
1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 14
Item for euery last of faggottes of yron iiii. s.
1640 in J. Entick London
(1767)
II. 181
For a faggot of steel 0 1d.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words
(ed. 6)
,
Faggot of Steel (in Traffick) the Quantity of 120 Pound-Weight.
1721–1800 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 338
This is termed a faggot [of iron], being about 12 or 14 inches long, and six inches square.
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 221
The bars were then..fastened into a faggot.
1540—1881(Hide quotations)
5. (See quot. 1851.)
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 227/2
He..made his supper..on ‘fagots’. This preparation..is a sort of cake, roll, or ball,..made of chopped liver and lights, mixed with gravy, and wrapped in pieces of pig's caul.
1858 G. A. Sala Journey due North 308
The curious viands known in cheap pork-butchery..as Faggots.
1881 in Oxford Gloss. Supp.
1851—1881(Hide quotations)
6.
a. A term of abuse or contempt applied to a woman (orig. dial.) Also in extended uses.
1591 T. Lodge Catharos f. 4v,
A filbert is better than a faggot, except it be an Athenian she handfull.
1840 R. H. Barham Grey Dolphin in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 88
‘What's that you say, you old faggot?’
1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles II. xxi. 233
She..struck at me, she did, the good-for-nothing faggot!
1882 E. L. Chamberlain Gloss. West Worcs. Words 11
Faggit, a term of reproach used to children.
1900 Eng. Dial. Dict. II. 278/2
To a stray cow: ‘Come out o' that, ye old faggot.’
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. 690
That old faggot Mrs Riordan.
1925 D. H. Lawrence Refl. Death Porcupine 176
To me she [sc. a cow] is fractious, tiresome, and a faggot. Yet the subtle desirableness is in her, for me.
1969 Sunday Mirror 9 Feb. 35
'Urry up wi' that glass o' beer, you lazy faggot!
1591—1969(Hide quotations)
b. A (male) homosexual. slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.).
1914 L. E. Jackson & C. R. Hellyer Vocab. Criminal Slang 30 s.v.
Drag, Example: ‘All the fagots (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight.’
1926 C. Wood & G. Goddard Dict. Amer. Slang 16
Fagot, a chorus man; an effeminate man.
1936 J. Dos Passos Big Money
(1937)
273
The first thing Marge thought was how on earth she could ever have liked that fagot.
1962 H. Kane Killer's Kiss xxvii. 207
Duffy was no queen, no platinum-dyed freak, no screaming faggot.
1966 New Statesman 18 Mar. 392/3
The American word ‘faggot’ is making advances here over our own more humane ‘queer’.
1970 New Yorker 28 Nov. 21/2
A gathering of homosexuals..a Jew, a Negro, a butch faggot, a nellie faggot.
1914—1970(Hide quotations)
†7. A person temporarily hired to supply a deficiency at the muster, or on the roll of a company or regiment; a dummy. Obs.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew,
Faggots, Men Muster'd for Souldiers, not yet Listed.
1708 Brit. Apollo No. 105. 4/1
You may be some Faggot to pass at a Muster.
a1753 P. Drake Mem.
(1755)
II. iii. 75
The Adjutants..came to treat and settle with me about the Fagots (Men deficient of the Number of Workmen, ordered from each Regiment).
1756 Ld. Chesterfield Connoisseur No. 102. 618
William, a Faggot in the First Regiment of the Guards.
1802 in C. James New Mil. Dict.
1699—1802(Hide quotations)
8. = faggot-vote n.
1817 Sir F. Burdett in Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 1368
These faggots..returned the two members to the House of Commons.
1879 Daily News 16 Apr. 6/6
He..had not the slightest doubt he would win, unless he were to be swamped by faggots.
1884 Truth 13 Mar. 374/1
The art of manufacturing fagots.
1817—1884(Hide quotations)
9. In various occasional uses: (see quots.).
1727 R. Bradley Family Dict. (at cited word),
Faggots of Oranges, Orange-Peels turn'd or par'd very thin, in order to be preserv'd.
1867 W. H. Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 287
Fagot, a billet for stowing casks.
1880 T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words E. Cornwall in Gloss. Cornwall,
Faggot..a secret and unworthy compromise.
1727—1880(Hide quotations)
Compounds
C1. General attrib. Also faggot-vote n.
faggot-bearer n.
?1518 Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.j,
With lollers lordaynes and fagot berers.
?1518—?1518(Hide quotations)
faggot-boat n.
1616 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Scornful Ladie ii. sig. E1,
If you scape with life, and take a fagot boat.
1616—1616(Hide quotations)
faggot-flame n.
1842 A. T. de Vere Song of Faith 243
Turkish cimeters Not fiercelier bite than Christian faggot-flame.
1842—1842(Hide quotations)
faggot-maker n.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft v. i. 91
Three witches of great wealth..assalted a faggot-maker.
1820 T. Mitchell in tr. Aristophanes Comedies I. p. l,
Originally a faggot-maker, his mode of tying up bundles excited the attention of Democritus.
1584—1820(Hide quotations)
faggot-making n.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village
(1863)
II. 408
Its long open sheds for broom and faggot-making.
1826—1826(Hide quotations)
faggot-pile n.
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village
(1863)
II. 257
The cart-shed..and the faggot-pile.
1826—1826(Hide quotations)
faggot-steel n.
1831 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal I. 234
The article known among dealers by the appellation of faggot steel.
1831—1831(Hide quotations)
faggot-stick n.
1523 Tell-Troth's N.Y. Gift 13
Began to beelabour her..with a faggotstick.
a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance
(1775)
II. i. 7
The maid followed puss, with a faggot-stick in her hand.
1523—a1774(Hide quotations)
faggot-wood n.
1704 tr. P. Baldæus Descr. Ceylon in A. Churchill & J. Churchill Coll. Voy. III. 727/2
Boats came..to fetch Faggot-wood.
1704—1704(Hide quotations)
C2.
faggot-brief n. a dummy brief (cf. 7).
1859 G. A. Sala Twice round Clock
(1861)
97
The briefless ones..pretend to pore over ‘faggot’ briefs.
1859—1859(Hide quotations)
faggot-drain n. a drain made by placing faggots at the bottom of a trench and then covering them with earth.
1819 Communic. Board Agric. 245
Many of these faggot-drains have failed.
1819—1819(Hide quotations)
faggot filling-stitch n. = faggot-stitch n.
1934 M. Thomas Dict. Embroidery Stitches 182
Sheaf filling stitch, also known as faggot filling stitch.
1957 M. B. Picken Fashion Dict. 121/1
Fagot filling-stitch, group of parallel stitches tied together at center to form a bundle.
1934—1957(Hide quotations)
faggot-iron n. iron, in the form of bars or masses, made from welding together a faggot or pile of iron bars.
1870 E. Röhrig Universal Technol. Dict.
(ed. 2)
II. 219/2
Fagot-iron, faggotted iron, das Paketeisen, das Schroteisen. Ferraille.
1870—1870(Hide quotations)
† faggot-spray n. Obs. the refuse twigs, etc., left in making faggots.
1669 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense
(ed. 3)
57
Put some rubbish of Lime-stones..Fagot-spray, or the like at the bottom of the Cases.
1669—1669(Hide quotations)
faggot-stitch n. needlework in which two pieces of material are joined together by stitching resembling the faggoting of drawn-thread work; so .
1903 Daily Chron. 13 June 8/4
A lace and canvas epaulette pelerine, the seams of which are separated by faggot-stitch.
1903—1903(Hide quotations)
faggot-stitching n.
1928 Sunday Express 3 June 8
The frills, which were not more than half an inch wide, were set in with faggot stitching.
1928—1928(Hide quotations)
† faggot-waisted adj. Obs. arranged in pleats like a bundle of sticks.
1581 B. Rich Farewell Mil. Profession
(1846)
218
Their dublettes some~tyme faggot wasted above the navill; sometymes cowe~beallied belowe the flanckes.
1581—1581(Hide quotations)