dial. Forms: α. 6 feaberrie, 7, 9 fe-, 9 fa-, fae-, fayberry, 7– feaberry. β. 7–9 pl. feab(e)s, 9 fabes, fapes, feaps. γ. pl. 7 thebes, thepes, 9 thapes. [Possibly corruption of *theve berry, f. ME. THEVE:—OE. péfe prickly shrub (in péfe-porn) + BERRY; the shortened form thebes appears to preserve the original initial. Cf. DAYBERRY (perh. a variant).]
A gooseberry; in Norfolk applied only to the unripe fruit (Forby). Also attrib.
1597. Gerard, Herball, 1143. In English Gooseberrie, Gooseberrie bush, and Feaberrie Bush in Cheshire, my natiue countrie.
1611. Cotgr., Groiselles, gooseberries; thornberries; fea-berries.
1615. Markham, The English House-wife (1660), 76. The best sauce for green Geese is the juyce of Sorrel and Suger mixt together with a few scalded Feberries.
1674. Ray, S. & E. C. Words, 65. Feabes or Feaberries; Gooseberries, Suff. Thebes in Norfolk.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Feabs or Fea-berries, a Country-Word for Goose-berries.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Fapes s. pl. gooseberries. Variously called also feaps, feabs, fabes and thapes; all abbreviations of feaberries…. On that day [the Guild-day] a fape-tart is an indispensable regale at every table.
1855. E. Waugh, Lanc. Life (1857), 104. ‘Fayberry cake’ … or such like homely buttery-stuff.
