Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. UK Und.) to trouble, to bother.

1786		Young Coalman’s Courtship 8: They ne’er fash’d wi’ us nor we wi’ them.
1803		R. Anderson ‘A Weyfe for Wully Miller’ Cumberland Ballads (1805) 86: Hout, Wully, lad! cock up thy head, / Nor fash thysel about her.
1817		W. Scott Rob Roy (1883) 415: I’ll ne’er fash mysell, not lose my liking for sae feckless a matter.
1823		Proceedings of Jockey and Maggy 3: I think your father was a fool for fashing wi’ him.
1826		Cumberland Pacquet 12 Dec. 4/5: Now, Nan, what myeks th’ fash me here. Gan hyem and get the bairns to bed.
1834		T. Hood ‘Tylney Hall’ in Works (1862) III 172: ‘Never fash yourself, Tibbie,’ said the Mistress, ‘wi’ the likes – you’re no at Glencosie.’.
1857		Londonderry Standard 7 May 4/1: He’s awa’ to Cramond brig [...] and he’ll no be back this while to fash us.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 318/1: He believed that [...] now the Almighty did not ‘fash’ (trouble) himself about his creatures at all!
1863		G.A. Sala Breakfast in Bed 154: They don’t ‘fash’ themselves.
1879		Ulverston Mirror 1 Feb. n.p.: ‘Udder foke thinks they needn’t fash therselds’.
1882		‘Thormanby’ Famous Racing Men 80: Don’t fash yourself, Mr. Trenholm.
1891		G.R. Sims ‘A Tale of a Tub’ Dagonet Ditties 149: A solemn silence reigns around / When thoughts my Willie fash.
1910		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘Guid Advice’ Sporting Times 2 July 1/3: Dinna fash yoursel’ aboot ma deeds.
1918		R.D. Paine Fighting Fleets 283: Dinna fash aboot me.
1923		W. Holtby Anderby Wold (1981) 96: Now then don’t go fashin’ yourself about your chair covers.
1940		Western Mail (Perth) 13 June 2/3: Dinna fash yersel’, Aussie.
1953		Fife Herald 8 July 5/5: ‘Fash’ is trouble or annoyance, and we do not now say ‘I canna be fashed,’ but ‘I can’t be bothered’.
1966		P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 170: Could it be she’s fashed about something?
1970		F. Collymore Notes for Gloss. of Barbadian Dial. 47: The Scots word is occasionally used in its correct sense of bother or trouble. Don’t fash yourself.