Obs. rare. [Of obscure origin; it can hardly be a var. of FIEND; a subst. use of FEIGNED, FEINT adjs.?] ? A phantom, goblin.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 64. Those feints, which come nearest the shape of man, are most ugly and dangerous.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 7. There are really no such standing Species of Animals, and Vegetables [as fauns, mermaids, etc.] in Nature, tho’ the belief of such feinds hath been propagated by Orators, upon account of their fitness to be made use of in the way of Similitude.
