Obs. exc. Hist. [OE. féorðling, f. féorð-a FOURTH + -LING.] = FARTHING.

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  1.  As a coin: The fourth part of a penny.

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c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xxi. 2. Þa ȝeseah he sume earme wydewan bringan tweȝen feorð-lingas.

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a. 1300.  Agst. King of Almaigne, 10, in Pol. Songs (Camden), 69.

        Richard … spende al is tresour opon swyvyng;
Haveth he nout of Walingford o ferlyng.

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1605.  Camden, Rem. (1636), 125. Two Easterlings & one ferling.

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1707.  Fleetwood, Chron. Prec. (1745), 40. Ferling … is a Farthing or the 4th Part of a Sterling.

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  2.  (See quot.)

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1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 497. There were in this Borrough foure Ferlings, that is, Quarters or Wards.

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  3.  The fourth part a. of an acre; b. of a hide.

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1695.  Kennett, Par. Antiq., Gloss., s.v. Furendellus, A fardingel, farundel or ferling of land, i. e. the fourth part of an acre.

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1846.  G. Oliver, Monast. Exon., 321, note. The ferling was perhaps, thirty acres.

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