Obs. Also 7 furbery. [ad. F. fourberie, f. fourber: see prec.] A piece of deception; a fraud, trick, imposture.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 43. In the perambulation of Italy young Travellers must be cautious, among diuers other to avoyd one kind of Furbery or cheat, whereunto many are subiect, which is, that in som great Townes, specially Rome and Venice, there are certain Brokers of manuscripts, who are no other then Mountibanks in that kind.
1690. Secr. Hist. Chas. II. & Jas. II., Pref. A ij b. Let all the World judg of the Furberies and Tyranny of those Times, and the Integrity, Sincerity, and Sweetness of Their Present Majesties Reign.
1737. Fielding, Hist. Reg., III. Wks. 1882, X. 232. This, sir, I think is a very pretty Pantomime trick, and an ingenious burlesque on all the fourberies which the great Lun has exhibited in all his entertainments.
[1856. Smyth, Catal. Roman Family Coins, 165. But Alessandro had a strong vein of fourberie in ancient matters, and on some tacks should be trusted no farther than a man may swing a ship by the bowsprit.]
