† fowv.
Obsolete.
transitive. To clean, cleanse (out). Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > clean [verb (transitive)]
yclense971
cleansea1000
farmOE
fayc1220
fowc1350
absterse?a1425
mundify?a1425
muck1429
to cast clean1522
absterge1526
sprinkle1526
reconcile1535
net1536
clengec1540
neat?1575
snuff?1575
rinse1595
deterge1623
scavengea1644
scavenger1645
decrott1653
reform1675
clean1681
deterse1684
fluxa1763
to clean away, offa1839
to clean down1839
scavage1851
untaint1855
to sand and canvas1912
c1350 Med. MS. in Archaeologia 30 351 Chyldys vryne þin ere fowe, And helpe þin ere on a throwe.
a1400 Sir Beues 1120 (MS. A.) Beter be-come þe iliche, For to fowen an olde diche Þanne for to be dobbed kniȝt.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 266 Take mekenes in herte, & þat schal fowyn out all trouble and vnreste.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 557/2 Thou shalte eate no buttered fysshe with me, tyll thou wasshe thy handes, for thou hast fowed a gonge late.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (i. 10) 224 They are only good, when on the Sabboth day they are fowing tap-houses.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > [noun]
cleansingc1000
rinsinga1400
abstersion?a1425
mundification?a1425
detersion1607
mundifying1610
mundation1633
fowing1636
cleaning1662
detergency1710
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 175/1 Fowynge, or clensynge, emundacio.
1636 R. James Iter Lancastrense (Chetham Soc.) 9 (note) He had found six thousand infants' heads in the foing of his fish ponds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > [noun] > one who or that which cleans
fowerc1440
mundifierc1475
cleanser1570
scavenger1596
fayer1611
cleanera1792
mundatory1860
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 174/2 Foware, or clensare of donge, as gongys, and oþer lyke, fimarius, oblitor.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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