Middle English Dictionary Entry
fraught n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fraught n. Also fraght, fre(i)ght, freit, frait(h. |
| Etymology | MDu. vracht, vrecht (whence also OF fret). The variants fra(u)ght & fre(i)ght exhibit the regional dissemination of a(u)ght & e(i)ght eight. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The transporting of goods or passengers (usually by water); a charge for transportation; passage money; (b) facilities for transportation.
Associated quotations
a
- (1389) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.3576 : Les ditz merchantz ount receuz vij lastes forsqe i barelle, et le mestre ad receu deuers luy pour sonn freghte iiij lastes.
- (1395-6) Rec.Norwich 251 : [To John atte Ee for] freyth [of timber from Colchester to Norwich].
- (1427-8) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)167 : Item, Flaundrissh bryke with Wharuage, Freight, and cariage, Summa x li. v s. ix d.
- (1438-9) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9972 : Pro le fraght salmonum sals a Berwico usque Novum Castrum ac. 17d. sol., pro portag. 27s. 6d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)177 : Freythe of acryage [vr. freyt]: Vectura, nabulum, trajectio.
- (1442) RParl.5.54b : Some haven Shippes of here owne, and some medle hem of freight of Shippes..and haveth and occupieth to here owne use diverse Wharves and Keyes.
- (1443) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1388 : For fraught of C j quarter and a half of Ornel contenyng iij tonne fro London vn to the College, at xvj d the tonne.
- (1444) RParl.5.114a : Englyssh Merchauntz byen yere xx Tonnes Wyne in nombre, and paien Custumes, Freightes, and many other costes that rennen yerupon.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57194 : My mastyr toke hym ffor his ffreyte to Caleys, whan he went wyth the wollis, vj li.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57212 : My mastyr paid to John Forde..for the freyte of an anker fro London, iij. s.
- (1480) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/42)p.77 (87/12) : I haue non schepyde as yete, but I wyll after thys halydayys, for the weche I wyll ye orden for the frayth and hoder costys.
- (1481) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/82)p.115 (128/9) : Off the vj packys ffell beth .. certeyne somer ffellys .. whych vj packys ȝe muste receyue and paye the ffrayte.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)90 : For my fader had not to pay to þe maister of the ship for the fraught, he left my modir to wed.
b
- (1463-4) RParl.5.504a : That noo persone..charge..eny Shippe or other Vessell of eny Alien or Straunger with eny manere Marchaundisez to be caried oute of this Reame..yf he may have sufficient freight in the shippes or Vessells of the Deynsyns of this Reame.
2.
(a) The cargo or lading of a ship; fig. a burden; (b) the ballast of a ship; (c) a load of passengers.
Associated quotations
a
- (1228) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.157 : Et si navis capit novum fraght et capit bona in nave ad ducenda, debet iterum solvere teoloneum.
- (1434) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.394 : John Brykkeles of london..had frait on a vessell of Bretaigne..xv tonell of wyn for to comme to london.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5384 : Þan fild þai with fraght all þere fuerse shippes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)9388 : Thelaphon..ffylde all his fyne shippes, & his fraght made.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)590 : Ful of synne is my secke; To þe preest y wole schewe þat frawȝte; Mi schip is chargid, al gooþ to wrecke.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)129/163 : As me semyth as be here fraught, 'Fayr chylde, lullay' sone must she syng.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)51a : Fraght or lastage of a shipe: saburra.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13301 : Fele of my fraght were before past, Draghen into the depe, drownet belyue.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)190 : With duke Kylrike he fought, And droaue hym to his shippes..In Humbar, so that he had not to his fraught; But fewe persones were lefte alyue vnslayne.
3.
(a) Goods; (b) charge; kepen into fraught, keep in charge, protect.
Associated quotations
a
- (1432) Oath Sheriff in Dev.Cor.NQ 8 pt.19 : Wherever ye shall have any knoweleth that the Kynges ryghtes or the ryghtes of his Corone be cancelled or withdrawen, be hit in landes, rentes, Fraunchises, fraytes or any other thing.
- a1450 Bevis (Cai 175/96)507 fn. : Frauȝte [Auch: Marchaundes þai fonde..And solde þat child for mechel auȝte].
b
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)85/241-5 : Jhesus þat vs lauht, kep vs in to þi frauht And ay from vs stinte þe fendes strif..In to þat frauȝt Jhesus hire tauht Samaritan, þat cely wyl.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1359) Doc.Beverley in Seld.Soc.142 : De qualibet navi, kele, et fraghtschip, per annum, xij d.
Note: New cpd.