Feck
/fɛk/noun
A small amount, or in Irish and Scottish English, vigor, effectiveness, or consequence.
Did you know?The English word *feck* is a shortening of *effect*, and in Irish and Scottish English it developed senses like “value,” “amount,” and “energy,” showing how a word for result became a word for force.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
effect
“Result, consequence, or accomplishment.”
16th Century
English
feck
“A shortened form of effect, especially in dialectal use.”
19th Century
Irish English
feck
“Vigor, force, value, or amount.”
19th Century
Scottish English
feck
“A large part, most of, or a considerable quantity.”
Modern English
English
feck
“A dialect word meaning a quantity, amount, or effectiveness; also used in the expletive verb feck.”