Fast

fast, adj. firm: fixed: steadfast: fortified: (of sleep) sound ( Shak. ).— adv. firmly, unflinchingly: soundly or sound (asleep): quickly: close, near.— n. Fast-and-loose , the name of a cheating game practised at fairs—called also Prick-the-garter .— adj. Fast′-hand′ed , close-fisted.— adv. Fast′ly ( Shak. ), firmly.— n. Fast′ne , fixedne : a stronghold, fortre , castle.— Fast by , close to.— Play fast and loose (from the foregoing), to be unreliable, to say one thing and do another; Hard-and-fast (see Hard ). [A.S. fæst ; Ger. fest .]