TO HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH A WRIT OF FIERI FACIAS, verb. phr. (legal).—Said of a red-nosed man. [A play upon words.]
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller, in wks. v., 44. Should I tell you how many pursenants with red noses, and sargeants with precious faces, shrunke away in this sweat, you would not belieue me … a pursenant or a sargeant at this present, with the verie reflexe of his FIRIE FACIAS, was able to spoile a man a farre of.
1608. Penniles Parliament, in Harleian Miscellany (ed. PARK), I., 183. They that drink too much Spanish sack, shall, about July, be served with a FIERY FACES.
1663. DRYDEN, The Wild Gallant, Act ii. Bur. You are very smart upon one another, Gentlemen. Fail. This is nothing between us; I use to tell him of his Title, FIERY FACIAS; and his setting dog, that runs into Ale-houses before him.
