Fretwork
(Fret"work) n. [6th fret + work.] Work adorned with frets; ornamental openwork or work in
relief, esp. when elaborate and minute in its parts. Hence, any minute play of light and shade, dark and
light, or the like.
Banqueting on the turf in the fretwork of shade and sunshine.
Macaulay. Freya
(Frey"a) n. [Icel. Freyja.] (Scand. Myth.) The daughter of Njörd, and goddess of love and beauty; the
Scandinavian Venus; - - in Teutonic myths confounded with Frigga, but in Scandinavian, distinct. [Written
also Frea, Freyia, and Freyja.]
Friabiiity
(Fri"a*bii"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. friabilité.] The quality of being friable; friableness. Locke.
Friable
(Fri"a*ble) a. [L. friabilis, fr. friare to rub, break, or crumble into small pieces, cf. fricare to
rub, E. fray: cf. F. friable.] Easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. "Friable ground." Evelyn.
"Soft and friable texture." Paley. — Fri'a*ble*ness, n.
Friar
(Fri"ar) n. [OR. frere, F. frère brother, friar, fr. L. frater brother. See Brother.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant
orders, viz: (a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans. (b) Augustines. (c) Dominicans or Black Friars.
(d) White Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
2. (Print.) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3. (Zoöl.) An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird (Zoöl.), an Australian bird having the head destitute of feathers; — called also coldong, leatherhead,
pimlico; poor soldier, and four- o'clock. The name is also applied to several other species of the same
genus. — Friar's balsam (Med.), a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic
solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin. Brande & C. — Friar's
cap (Bot.), the monkshood. — Friar's cowl (Bot.), an arumlike plant (Arisarum vulgare) with a spathe
or involucral leaf resembling a cowl. — Friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp. Milton. —
Friar skate (Zoöl.), the European white or sharpnosed skate (Raia alba); — called also Burton skate,
border ray, scad, and doctor.
Friarly
(Fri"ar*ly), a. Like a friar; inexperienced. Bacon.
Friary
(Fri"ar*y) a. [From Friar, n.] Like a friar; pertaining to friars or to a convent. [Obs.] Camden.
Friary
(Fri"ar*y), n. [OF. frerie, frairie, fr. frère. See Friar.]
1. A monastery; a convent of friars. Drugdale.
2. The institution or practices of friars. Fuller.
Friation
(Fri*a"tion) n. [See Friable.] The act of breaking up or pulverizing.
Fribble
(Frib"ble) a. [Cf. F. frivole, L. frivolus, or E. frippery.] Frivolous; trifling; silly.
Fribble
(Frib"ble), n. A frivolous, contemptible fellow; a fop.
A pert fribble of a peer.
Thackeray. Fribble
(Frib"ble), v. i.
