favel

From Old French favele, from Latin fabella (“short fable”), diminutive of fabula. See fable.

favel

1. (obsolete) flattery; cajolery; deceit
   • 16th century, Thomas Wyatt, Mine own John Poins:

     The friendly foe, with his double face,
     Say he is gentle and courteous therewithal;
     And say that favel hath a goodly grace
     In eloquence; and cruelty to name

From Old French fauvel, favel, diminutive of Old French fauve; of German origin. See fallow (adjective).

favel (comparative more favel, superlative most favel)

1. yellow or dun in colour
   • c. 1489, William Caxton, Four Sons of Aymon:

     There came rydynge a messager vpon a horse fauell.

favel (plural favels)

1. A horse of a favel or dun colour.

• “favel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

From Old French favel. Uses after the 14th century are based on William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman.

favel (uncountable)

1. flattery; duplicity

• “fāvē̆l, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.