(vbl.) sb. [f. FAIR sb. + -ING1.]
1. A present given at or brought from a fair.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep. (1577), 86. The Gentlewomen that did serue her [the Empresse] … would vse their libertie in asking fayrings.
1614. B. Jonson, Barth. Fair, Prologue.
| The Maker doth present: and hopes, to night | |
| To giue you for a Fayring, true delight. |
1661. Pepys, Diary, 31 Aug. To Bartholomew Faire … Mr. Pickering bought them some fairings.
1786. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 8 Nov. Presenting her one of my fairings.
1827. Clare, The Shepherd’s Calendar; with Village Stories, and Other Poems, 149, The Rivals.
| I loved her long before, but had a fear | |
| To speak—as by a stall she chanced to stand, | |
| With kerchief full of fairings in her hand. |
1883. J. Purves, The Lothian Hinds, in Longm. Mag., April, 655. The lasses get their ‘fairing’ from the lads in gingerbread and nuts from the stalls.
b. transf. A complimentary gift of any kind.
1588. Shaks., Loves Labour’s Lost, V. ii. 2.
| Qu. Sweet hearts, we shall be rich ere we depart, | |
| If fairings come thus plentifully in. |
1668. Pepys, Diary, 17 Sept. I … did give her five guineas as a fairing.
1727. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr., I. 135. There is a little Tunbridge jewel box which Mrs. Tillier desires you to accept as her fairing.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xvii. Colin … gives her a fairing to put in her hair.
1826. Miss Mitford, Village, 2nd Ser. (1863), 439. To our little pet, Lizzy … she predicted a fairing.
c. fig. To get, give (any one) his fairing: to get, give (him) his deserts.
1785. Burns, Death & Dr. Hornbook, xxx.
| Neist time we meet, I’ll wad a groat, | |
| He’s got his fairin’! |
1818. Scott, Old Mort., xxxvii. ‘Mackay will pit him [Claverhouse] down … he’ll gie him his fairing.’
1823. Lockhart, Reg. Dalton, I. II. iv. 262. ‘Ane o’ them got his fairin.’
2. Cakes or sweets sold at fairs; esp. gingerbread nuts. Chiefly colloq.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Hallow-fair, Poems (1845), 13.
| He’ll tak the hint, and creish her loof | |
| Wi’ what will buy her fairin, | |
| To chew that day. |
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v. Do you like fairings or comforts best?
3. ? nonce-use. Buying, etc., at a fair.
1887. Baring-Gould, The Gaverocks, xiv., in Cornh. Mag., March, 251. The fairing was done with shivers.
4. attrib. and Comb.
1593. Pass. Morrice, I b. Honestie knowes what the fairing-monger will saye.
1790. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, Aug. I placed one of my fairing work-baskets … on a table.
