feis
1 of 2noun (1)
ˈfesh
plural feiseanna
-shənə
often capitalized
1
: an assembly in ancient Ireland for the promulgation of laws and for competition in artistic, intellectual, and physical prowess compare aenach
2
: an Irish folk festival or convention patterned on the ancient feis and featuring games and competitions and usually traditional Irish music and dancing compare eisteddfod
feis
2 of 2noun (2)
plural of fei
: a wild banana (Musa fehi) widely cultivated in Polynesia and distinguished by an upright fruiting stalk bearing large thick fruits that have reddish orange or yellow skin and are edible only when cooked
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Irish Gaelic, from Middle Irish, feast; akin to Old English wist food, feast, existence, Old High German wist food, Old Norse vist food, dwelling, Gothic wists nature, essence, Old English wesan to be
- by the rules
- by the same token
- by the score
- by the seat of one's pants
- by the skin of one's teeth
- by the sweat of one's brow
- by the time
- by the way
- by the wayside
- by trade
- by turns
- by virtue of
- by ware
- by way of
- by way of explanation
- by way of illustration
- by word of mouth
- by's thistle
- by's-thistle
- by-alley
- by-altar
- by-and-by
- by-and-bys
- by-bidder
- by-blow