ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD FAINITES
From fains I I decline, from feine feign, from Old French se feindre in the sense: back out, esp of battle.
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FAINITES»
Discover the use of
fainites in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to
fainites and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
The Coalition Chronicles
Mr. Speaker: What in the name of blithering balls is going on here, Prime Minister
? The Prime Minister: [most hurriedly] Upon the Eve of Swapsie Fainites I do
hereby claim the Speaker's Chair and call Swapsies. Mr. Speaker: Fainites!
Fainites!
2
Discovering English Dialects
The Opies' map of these words shows large areas of skinch. kings or kings and
crosses in the east and of barley (adjoining) in the west, with fainites in the south-
east and south-west, these large regions being penetrated by other, different, ...
Martyn Francis Wakelin, 1994
3
The Lore of the Playground: One hundred years of children's ...
Back in i959, Croydon had been firmly in the 'fainites' territory, and informal
discussions with older local residents confirmed that this was the word they
remembered. But in 1988 it came a relatively poor third in the list of preferred
words. in ...
4
The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren
Common phrase amongst boys in Peterborough. 'No tiggin' in eggshell.' T1n still
in my eggshell, dopey. My feet are crossed.' Probably from a local sanctuary
game. Fainsor fainites. The usual term in London, and throughout southern
England ...
Iona Archibald Opie, Peter Opie, 2001
... in the desk. That was it. It was a furious game and occupied the entire
playground, spinning them off into every direction like paper chips in a
kaleidoscope. Soon. both. his. bootlaces. had. come. undone. and. he. had. to.
call. 'fainites ...
6
Archaic England: An Essay in Deciphering Prehistory from ...
which among children is equivalent to *' fainites " : the sign of truce or fainites is to
cross the two fore-fingers into the form of the treus or cross. St. Nicholas is the
unquestioned patron of all children, and in the past bands of lads, terming ...
7
A Companion To Medieval English Literature and Culture ...
The London form fainites has a minority variant, vainites. The word fainites is
probably of Anglo-Norman origin, from the Anglo-Norman French verb feindre
meaning 'to pretend, feign, turn a blind eye to', which is what the temporarily
powerful ...
8
Merlin and the Woods of Time
Right. To work. Barley, fainites, crosses, kings... He waves his wand. The BODIES
stand, raise their arms, cross their fingers, and troop out to the Chapel, as if
entranced. THE Barley, fainites, crosses, kings BODIES: Truce, barsies,
screwsies, ...
9
Jiggy McCue: Ryan's Brain
But I could actually do without things like that inmylife right now, know what I
mean? So how about it? Fainites?' 'What?' saidPete. 'What what?' '
Whatyoujustsaid.' 'Whatdid Ijustsay?' 'Fay something.' 'Fainites?' 'Yeah.' 'It means
let'scall a truce ...
10
'Rommel?' 'Gunner Who?': A Confrontation in the Desert
'Say fainites,' Isaid,as Edgington put undue pressureon his scrotum. 'Fainites,' he
screamed.'If it weren'tfor thefact you bastards owe me money, I'd arrest you,' said
Trew from the depthsof the kit bags where wehad buriedhim.'That's a terrible ...
