What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Glanders in horses (or a similar disease in cattle) in which there is inflammation of the lymph vessels, causing nodules (farcy buds or farcy buttons).
Late Middle English: from Old French farcin, from late Latin farciminum, from farcire ‘to stuff’ (because of the appearance of the swollen nodules).