Etymology Dictionary

FAGGOT, FAGOT,  a bundle of sticks.  (F.,—L. ?)   In Shak. Tit. And. iii. I. 69; I Hen. VI, v. 4. 56.—F. fagot, 'a fagot, a bundle of sticks;' Cot.   Cf. Ital. fagotto, fangotto, a bundle of sticks.   β. Perhaps from Lat. fac-, stem of fax, a torch; cf. facula, a little torch, whence G. fackel; see Diez.   From ✔BHA, to shine; whence also Gk. φαίνειν, to bring to light, φανή, a torch.   γ. Diez further compares Gk. φάκελος, but this is Lat. fascis.   It is a difficulty, that F. fagot means rather a bundle than a torch.   I feel inclined to connect Ital. fangotto with Icel. fanga, an armful, as in skíðar-fang, viðar-fang, an armful of fuel; fanga-hnappr, a bundle of hay, an armful; from Icel. fá, to fetch, get, grasp; see Fang.   ¶ The W. ffagod is probably borrowed from E.   Der. faggot, verb.