sb. pl. Also 9 feints. [pl. of FAINT a. (quasi-sb.).] The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the process of distillation. Also attrib.
1743. R. Maxwell, Sel. Trans. Soc. Improv. Agric. Scot., 295. Is it not a great Fault among Distillers, to allow any of the Faints to run among their pure Goods?
1815. J. Smith, The Panorama of Science and Art, II. 580. The latter part of this running being weak, is called feints.
1883. J. Gardner, Brewer, Distiller, etc., V. 146. The remaining weak spirit that distils over, called faints, is caught separately.
attrib. 1880. Act 43–4 Vict., c. 24, Sched. 1. A low wines and feints charger must be connected with the still. Ibid., 24 § 3. Spirits conveyed into a feints receiver.
