Also 1 faerh, fearh, 3 far, 8–9 dial. farry. Cf. FARE sb.2 [OE. fearh str. masc. corresp. to OS. *farh (whence diminutive MLG. ferken, Du. varken), OHG. farh, farah (MHG. varch; diminutive OHG. farhelîn, MHG. verkel, mod.G. ferkel):—OTeut. *farho-z boar:—pre-Teut. *porkos = Gr. πόρκος, L. porcus: see PORK.]
† 1. A young pig. Obs.
a. 700. Epinal Gloss., 811. Porcellus, faerh.
a. 1100. Ags. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 321. Porcellus, fearh.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 2441. Heo … flodeden, so faren in feld.
transf. 1820. Byron, Morgante Maggiore, lxiii.
| Another, to revenge his fellow farrow, | |
| Against the giant rush’d in fierce career. |
2. An act or instance of farrowing. [Properly another word; f. the vb.]
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 229. One sow may bring at one farrow twenty pigges.
1869. Daily News, 8 Dec. Mr. Lynn and his man … proved the dates of the farrows.
3. Hence concr. A litter of pigs; occas. in sing. (after Shakspere) with numeral to indicate the number of young.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 149 b. If you will have two farrowes in one yeere.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 65.
| Powre in Sowes blood, that hath eaten | |
| Her nine Farrow. |
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 519. The Lavinians were much troubled about the signification of such a monstrous farrow.
1787. Hunter, in Phil. Trans., LXXVII. 236. In that time she had eight farrows … and had in all seventy-six pigs.
1826. in Sheridaniana, 313. A fine Chinese sow and nine farrow.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., xvii. Perhaps I have two farrows of pigs ready for the chapman; perhaps I have ten stones of wool waiting for the factor.
4. Of the sow: In or with farrow: with young.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 150. So shall the damme … bee sooner with farrowe againe.
1884. Farm & Home, 25 Oct., 275/2. Boars do not usually pay much attention to sows in farrow.
5. attrib., as farrow-sow.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. xxi. 182.
| Alone, old Baubo ’s coming now; | |
| She rides upon a farrow-sow. |
