Middle English Dictionary Entry
frī(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | frī(e n.(2) Also friȝe. |
| Etymology | Prob. AF; cp. OF frier, var. of froier, freier rub, burst, spawn; cp. also F frai spawn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. frīen (2).
1.
(a) Spawn or the young of fish; small fish; -- constr. with sg. or pl. verb; (b) roe.
Associated quotations
a
- (1293) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.542 : Habent retia contra assissam cum quibus capiunt ffry et destruunt ripam Domini Regis.
- a1325 *Rwl.Statutes [OD col.] (Rwl B.520)lf.28 : Þat te friȝe of þe saumones ne ben noȝt i nomen ne destruide.
- (1329) Let.Bk.Lond.E (Gldh LetBk E)238 : [Even small fish called] fry [could not escape].
- (1389) Statutes Realm1.67a : Le frie ou brood des salmons..pourra en ascun manere estre pris ou destruit.
- (1391) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.573 : Capere yongfry in Regia Ripa et vendere..pro bayte.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)897 : The rennyng riuyere..Ful of fyssh and of frie of felefold kinde.
- (1462) Acc.Howard in RC 57562 : Grete carpes and many odre smale, and myche ffrye.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)104 : The werys bytwyne London and Mydway..dyd moche harme in the ryver of Themys, for they dystroyed moche yonge frye, for the pepylle gaffe hit hir hoggys.
- (1475) RParl.6.158b : Avoidyng the streytenes of all Ryvers..in savyng of all frye of Fyssh brought fourth in the same.
b
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)469 : Take frye of female pike, and pille away the skyn.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)95 : Take the ffry of a pike, and cast it rawe in a morter.
2.
Offspring, progeny; yong ~, children.
Associated quotations
- [ a1450(a1400) Sc.Leg.(Cmb Gg.2.6)2.201/867 : Fourty thousand..outakine wemen & ȝung fry. ]
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)25/66 : Noe thi seruant am I..Therfor me and my fry..saue from velany.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)28/177 : Noe, to the and to thi fry My blyssyng graunt I.