Learn English – What does ‘fast friends’ mean

adjectivesmeaning

Does anyone have an idea? Close friends? I usually see this term in stories where the friends were best friends and then they fight for some reason.

Best Answer

From Merriam-Webster:

fast
[...]
2 : firmly loyal <became fast friends>

From Wiktionary:

Of people: steadfast, with unwavering feeling. (Now only in set phrases like "fast friend".) [from 10th c.]

Etymonline provides some background:

O.E. fæst "firmly fixed, steadfast, secure, enclosed," probably from P.Gmc. *fastuz (cf. O.Fris. fest, O.N. fastr, Du. vast, Ger. fest)