WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
fess1
(fes),USA pronunciation n. [Heraldry.]
fess2 (fes),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i. [Informal.]
fess3 (fes),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.]
- Heraldryan ordinary in the form of a broad horizontal band across the middle of an escutcheon.
- Anglo-French
Latin fascia fascia - Middle English fesse 1350–1400
fess2 (fes),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i. [Informal.]
- fess up, to admit or concede, esp. freely.
- aphetic shortening of confess 1830–40
fess3 (fes),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.]
- Dialect Termsa teacher.
- shortening of professor
'fess up' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):