Middle English Dictionary Entry
fret n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | fret n.(2) Also frette. |
| Etymology | OF fret(t)e. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. freten (2).
1.
(a) An ornament, a decorative device, an ornamental design or border; (b) an ornamental netlike covering for the hair; a headband or diadem.
Associated quotations
a
- (1418) EEWills36/7 : A bed of Lyn wit a hool silour and Couerlet of þe same wroght wit mapil leues and fret of iij foill.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)228 : Yclothed..In silk, enbrouded ful of grene greves, In-with a fret [LGW Prol.(2): garlond] of rede rose-leves.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6206 : A chariot..Couert with a cloth all of clene gold, Dubbit full of diamondis &..fframet ouer fresshly with frettes of perle.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3015 : With frette of Perle upon his hed..He was a womman to beholde.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8061 : The frette of gold was like a belle.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)7647 : In hys hand two garlondys dede hold, In wych, by maner of a ryal fret, Rede rosys wyth whyt lylyis were set.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)215 : A fret of gold she hadde next her heer, And upon that a whit coroune she beer.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4338 : Oure paramours vs to plese ne pride þaim bewenes, Nouthire ffurrers, filetts, ne frengs, ne frettis of perle.
- (1452-3) Invent.Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.12216 : Item j ffrett argenteum cum lapidibus modici valoris ponderis j uncie j quarterii et dimidii.
2.
Her. A charge consisting of alternate bendlets and bendlets sinister interlaced, a device made up of narrow crisscross bands placed upon a field of a different color.
Associated quotations
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.3 (Hrl 2169)211 : Sabyll, a fret of gold.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.5 (Hrl 2169)176 : [Gules a] frett of sylwyr [and a quarter silver].