An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fant

by Friedrich Kluge

Fant, m., ‘coxcomb,’ a LG. form (comp. Du. vent, ‘a would-be wit, fool’), for MidHG. vanz, m., ‘rogue’ (still existing in alfanz, lit. ‘vagabond’; comp. ModHG. Firle, Fanz, the first part of which is obscure, perhaps connected with AS. fyrlen, ‘foreign’?). See Alfanzerei.