Middle English Dictionary Entry
frough adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | frough adj. Also frogh, freuch, frow. |
| Etymology | Cp. MnE dial. frough brittle (wood), friable (soil); perhaps akin to OI frā-r fresh, lively, OS frāh (OHG frō) sprightly, cheerful. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Weak (in character), loose, fickle; fals and frough; (b) of a vision: delicate; ?delightful.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.53 : To foluwe þe, þat was my þral, Þat evere were false and frouȝ.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)44 : Þeo luue þat ne may her abyde..hit is fals & mereuh & frouh And fromward in vychon tide.
- c1330 Þe siker soþe (Auch)42 : Now nouȝt, now y-nouȝ, Now fals, now frouȝ, Þe warld tirueþ ous touȝ Fram wawe to wawe.
- c1390 Off a trewe loue (Vrn)36 : Loue þat wol not wiþ þe a-byde..Hit is fikel, ffals, and ffrouȝ [rime: wouh, bouh].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)2305 : Þogh þe prest be fals or frow, Þe messe ys euer gode ynow.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1086 : So ferly þerof watz þe fasure. I stod as stylle as dased quayle For ferly of þat freuch fygure.
2.
(a) Fragile, crumbling;?adv. in crumbling fashion, as dust; (b) tender.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Earth(1) (Hrl 913)3 : Erþ vp erþ falliþ fol frow, Erþ toward erþ delful him drow.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.622,671 : To make hem [leeks] frough [L sectilem], kitte of the bladys longe..And ryght ther in her beddis let hem dwelle..[Leeks] thike ysowe is frough [L sectiuum] And rare ysowe is heded [L capitatum] grete & tough.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.147 : They [mallows] wole be frogh [L gloss: sectiles] ynough & tender swoote.