feþa

Meaning

1. an infantry

   Þǣr wæs Persa X M ofslæġen ġehorsedra, ⁊ eahtatiġ M fēþena, ⁊ eahtatiġ M ġefangenra.

   There, 10,000 Persian cavalry were slain, and 80,000 infantry, and 80,000 were captured.

   late 9th century, translation of Orosius’ History Against the Pagans

2. troop, company, host of soldiers

   …hē on merġenne mēċes eċġum ġētan wolde sum on galgtrēowum fēðan tō gamene.

   …he in the morning wished to kill, for mirth, some of the army on gallows trees by edges of a sword.

   c. 700–1000, Beowulf:

3. battle

Declension