A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Frete, n.1 Also: freyte, freit, freet, frett. [Northern ME frete (a 1300; otherwise only Sc.), of obscure origin.] A superstitious belief, fancy, or observance, esp. a belief in omens; anything regarded as an omen or foreboding. (Rarely used in the singular.)pl. c1420 Wynt. v. 4864.
Thai off Rome … in fretys and reverys Makand to deuelys offt sacryfys Ib. vi. 2208.
Thai herd, that Makbeth aye In fantown fretys had gret fay 1456 Hay II. 64/13.
Sum … mare has traist in thair fretis and folyis na in the faith of God Ib. 64/31.
A knycht that wyrkis eftir ȝone fretis, that we have here … namyt 1531 Bell. Boece II. 273.
He had sic confidence in his fretis, that he belevit fermely nevir to be vincust Id. Livy I. 55/23.
The Albanis hallowit thare fretis [L. carmina] and terribill coniuraciouns Ib. 191/27. a1568 Bann. MS. 134 a/3.
Sic freitis I hald nocht wirth a fas a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1286.
Sic smyling, begyling, Bids feir not any freits 1622-6 Bisset I. 63/32.
The fals responses of wiches … and dissaitfull freittis quhairon Makbaith lippynnit and dependitt 1629 Mure True Cruc. 2277.
But holie water in the ayre to tosse, … Scorne thou, as fruitlesse freets 1684 Erskine Diary 90.
I observed more freets and devilish customs they practice on Hallow evensing. a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxviii. 6.
Ane asse, … looking to no freet, To pleis hir maister [etc.] Id. Misc. P. xxiv. 37.
I, that … thoght his furie but a feckles freet 1702 Seafield Corres. 354.
Some have a frett that the hare should be killed
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Frete n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/frete_n_1>