Obs. exc. dial. Also 4, 6 verne, 7 fearne. [ME. verne, perh. f. VIRNE to go round, a. F. vironner, f. viron circuit.] A windlass.
[a. 1327. Acc. Works Westm. Palace, in Promp. Parv., 510, note. Gynes voc’ fernes. Ibid. (1328). Circa facturam cujusdam verne sive ingenii.]
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., II. vii. 47 b. Cranes or Vernes to winde up great Weightes.
1574. Nottingham Rec., IV. 155. The vse of a ferne to lode the tymber wyth.
1611. Cotgr., Moulinet à brassières, the barrell of a windlasse or fearne. Ibid., Chevie, the engine called by architects, etc. a fearne.
1847–78. Halliwell, Fearn, a windlass. Linc.
