1893 text
Foy. A feast given by one who is about to leave a place. In Kent, according to Grose, a treat to friends, either at going abroad or coming home. See Diary, November 25th, 1661.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
5 Annotations
First Reading
Wim van der Meij • Link
Warrington got it from Halliwell's Dictionary and calls it a merrymaking given at someone's parting
language hat • Link
The OED says it's from Dutch fooi (earlier foye, voye), probably from French voie 'way, journey.'
dirk • Link
The Dutch Etymological Dictionary confirms this etymology, adding a further link to Latin "via". "Fooi" in Dutch originally meant "farewell present". The present meaning is "tip".
in Aqua Scripto • Link
LH, my little old Webster's D concurs, adding Via, Latin for way or road [out of 'ere] used by the Scots to celebrate the end of harvest.
Second Reading
Bill • Link
FOY, a Treat given to their Friends by those who are going a Journey.
---An Universal Etymological English Dictionary. N. Bailey, 1675.