'Feignlights' Meaning?

[alanw888]

I am trying to discover the origin and correct spelling of the term 'Feignlights'. My daughter posed this question to me and I know that I used the term at school some 50 years ago, usually to define a 'truce' in some type arguement etc sometime accompanied with a linking of the little fingers, some times 'pax' was used in the same circumstances. Can any one help? Thanks

[Quizmonster]

Fains, fains I, fain it and fainites were all schoolboy versions of the demand for a truce. I'd imagine your 'feignlights' - more probably 'fainlights' - was a local version of that. They all come from the old verb 'fen', a corruption of 'fend', meaning to ward off/protect oneself. So, fains I' was really just the opposite of 'bags I'...ie I don't want this.

[Quizmonster]

Looking at my earlier answer, I wonder if I made it sufficiently clear that your 'feignlights' was almost certainly a version of 'fainites'. The letter 'l' that you include in the sound of your word was probably just the result of a playground mis-hearing.

[Traceyyy]

We always used to say 'Feinites' at school with fingers crossed, now the kids use 'homey' ie: a bench to run to for safety or say 'bugsy'

[rinkytink]

This very subject has been the source of much debate / amusement between me and my mates. We are all from different parts of the country and it seems that the word you use to describe the activity depends on where you are from. London - feignites Devon - Paxies Kent - Flexies Hampshire - cremoes.

[quattro]

When I was in school in North Wales a few years ago we used the term ' Barley' to a similar effect usually in a game where we did'nt want to be caught and saying the word put you out of the game.

[Brendat122]

Feignites was a playground expression, used more by boys than girls. I remember my brothers using it when they were playing a game that suddenly became a bit rough. 'Feignites' excused you from any further attacks, almost like a magic word, an invisible place of safety. Of course it wouldn't protect you from anything more serious than a playground game!

[ziotom]

My father, London born and bred, used the term "feignites" (logical spelling would seem to be this) to call a truce when playing with me as a child and it seems to be a London expression. I have since heard it used on "Only fools and horses", a good source of Cockney colloquial expressions.