Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡FREET, n. Also fre(i)t. The product of milk; butter, cheese (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; ‡Cai.⁷ 1953). Phr. and comb.: fre(e)t-taker, “an old woman supposed to have the power of deteriorating the milk of her neighbour and of increasing that of her own accordingly” (Ib.); taking (of) freet, see 1921 quot. (Cai.⁷ 1953).Cai. 1840–1850 E.D.D.:
I have often heard old people speak of the processes of the “Fret-takers.” and of how they might be detected.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (31 March):
The cows were not the type that would gain prizes at a show, but they were generally good milkers, famous for their “freit.”Cai. 1921 Old-Lore Misc. IX. i. 21:
The “taking of freet” was practised by the necromancer with more or less sincerity even within the past hundred years. The method generally adopted in Caithness to charm away the produce of a neighbour's dairy was the trailing of a hair tether or simmon over their grazing pasture between sun and day, when the dew lay wet and heavy. When the cow crossed the track of the hair tether she became yeil or her milk yielded no butter.Cai. 1952 per J. Ross:
It might still be said jocularly by a woman churning and finding the butter hard to come, “Surely somebodie's awa wi 'e freet”; and a cow that gave rich milk is said to be “gran for freet.”