A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

feast see AFTER the feast comes the reckoning; the COMPANY makes the feast; ENOUGH is as good as a feast.
feather see BIRDS of a feather flock together; FINE feathers make fine birds.
FEBRUARY fill dyke, be it black or be it white
February is traditionally a month of heavy rain (black) or snow (white), but see quot. 1978.

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  1557 T. TUSSER Husbandry D1 Feuerell fill dyke, doth good with his snowe. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 40 February fill dike Be it black or be it white; But if it be white, It’s the better to like. 1906 E. HOLDEN Country Diary of Edwardian Lady (1977) 13 February fill dyke Be it black or be it white. 1978 R. WHITLOCK Calendar of Country Customs iii. Though February is notoriously associated with floods, as in the appellation ‘February fill-dyke’, it is statistically one of the driest months of the year. ■ calendar lore
  

If in FEBRUARY there be no rain, ‘tis neither good for hay nor grain
An earlier expression of this idea is: 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 40 All the moneths in the year curse a fair Februeer.

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  1706 J. STEVENS Spanish & English Diet. s.v. Febrero, When it does not rain in February, there’s neither good Grass nor good Rye. 1906 E. HOLDEN Country Diary of Edwardian Lady (1977) 13 If February bring no rain ‘Tis neither good for grass nor grain. 1978 R. WHITLOCK Calendar of Country Customs iii. One farming adage asserts that ‘If in February there be no rain Tis neither good for hay nor grain.’ ^weather lore
  

FEED a cold and starve a fever
Probably intended as two separate admonitions, but the rationale behind the alternative interpretation is explained in quot. 2002. Early medical advice is represented by: 1574 J. WITHALS Dict. 66 Fasting is a great remedie in feuers.

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