fess

present singular third person fesses · participle present fessing · participle past fessed · past fessed · alternative 'fess

1. To confess; to admit.

plural fesses · alternative fesse · alternative feese

1. governmentA horizontal band across the middle of the shield.

   Lord Robert Walsingham de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral—Hum! Arms: Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable.

   1892, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor, Norton, published 2005, page 294

   1 more example

   The space where the arms of Wolsey used to be is being repainted with his own newly granted arms: azure, on a fess between three lions rampant or, a rose gules, barbed vert, between two Cornish choughs proper.

   2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall, Fourth Estate, published 2010, page 420

1. UKdialectalProud; conceited.

   Y'll be fess enough, my poppet, when th'st know!"

   1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 32

2. UKdialectalLively; active; strong.
3. UKdialectalOf animals, bad-tempered, fierce.

plural Fesses

1. A surname from German.

1. abbreviationinitialismmedicineInitialism of functional endoscopic sinus surgery.