foison

noun

foi·​son ˈfȯi-zᵊn 

1

archaic : rich harvest

2

chiefly Scotland : physical energy or strength

3

foisons plural, obsolete : resources

Did you know?

The definition of foison is amply supplied with labels; they appear at each of the definition's three senses, and they all suggest that it's unlikely that you'll come across foison in your general reading. The word did appear, however, in some reading material that was probably familiar to some of the Mayflower's pilgrims: the late 16th century sermons of Henry Smith. One of those sermons included the following: "Such a foison hath your alms, that by the blessing of God … it increases like the widow's meal…." Foison comes from Latin fusion-, fusio, meaning "outpouring, which in turn comes from fundere, meaning "to pour-the same source as that of the words profuse and refund, among others.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English foisoun, from Anglo-French fuisun, foison, from Latin fusion-, fusio outpouring — more at fusion

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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