fess

adj

1. Proud; conceited.

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

2. Lively; active; strong.
3. Of animals, bad-tempered, fierce.

name

Etymology: From German Fess, a variant of Feese.

1. A surname from German.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English fesse, from Old French fesse, an alteration of faisse, from Latin fascia. Cognate with fajita, fascia, and fascism.

1. A 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.”

   “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.”

verb

Etymology: Clipping of confess.

1. To confess; to admit.