Middle English Dictionary Entry
frēke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frēke n. Also freik(e, fraik, frake, frekke, freche. Pl. frēkes & (early) frēken. |
| Etymology | OE freca. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. frek.
1.
(a) A brave man, a warrior, a man-at-arms; (b) a man; (c) a human being, a person; a creature such as a giant, demon, angel.
Associated quotations
a
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch74/25 : Galfridus Freke.
- (1248) Feet Fines Oxf.in ORS 12153 : Hugo le Freke.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1190 : William ginnes ride fresly toward here fos, as frek out of witte.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1903 : Þou ferly freke..of o þyng say me soþ.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)500 : Aythire freke appone felde hase fichede thaire spere.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1360 : Thane folous frekly one fote frekkes ynewe.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2938 : To grounde of the hethen fylle many a freeke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5931 : He ffrusshet so felly freikes to ground.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)155 : When icha freke in þa feld on hys felay be[t].
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)731 : Heo..com baldeliche biforen..þes fifti, alle ferliche freken [vrr. freoken, frechen].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3504 : Swiche a wolf..cauȝt vp mi sone, riȝt bifore his fader and oþer frakes manye.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.13 : 'I am Fayn of þat foreward', seide þe Freike [vrr. frek, freek, frayk] þenne.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.152 : Þer beþ meny felle frekus [B: frekis].
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)99 : Þat freek may wel be holden a fool.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)120 : Þe tres..sonken to gronde, Þat frekus miȝht no friþ, no no frut kenne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)145 : He caste in his thoghte, The freike vpon faire wise ferke out of lyue.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)255 : Go not forthe as a dombe freke.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.47 : We have a mane, a strong freke, The wyche one fyld kypythe owr nette.
- c1500 The shype ax (Ashm 61)223 : Ȝe hafe the maner of this frekes That thus fore my mayster spekes.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)402 : A dere damisele..of alle fasoun þe fairest þat euer freke seiȝe.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4078 : In þat seson gete we [a child] samen togedere, on þe fairest freke þat euer seg on loked.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)79 : Þe wayferande frekez..Boþe burnez and burdez.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)919 : Þe freke [an angel] sayde [etc.].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)873 : I had leuere thane all Fraunce..I hade bene before thate freke [a giant] a furlange of waye.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)27/353 : I falle down here a ffowle freke.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)303/895 : I xal go sle þe fende, þat freke.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1661 : [The giant] was a ferly freke in ffyght.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)193 : Þe fairest feete þat ever freke kende.