Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fray, n.¹ Also: frey. [ME. fray (c 1340), aphetic from Affray n., Effray n.]

1, Fear, alarm, scare. 1375 Barb. xv. 255.
Thai that in the castell war War set in-till sic fray c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2276.
I gat a fell fray a1500 Henr. Fab. 2253.
The man … wes in ane felloun fray 1513 Doug. vii. v. 50.
Ar thai not stakit at rest, … and hes na fray Of me, ne of my malice? c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 410.
I was neuer in sic ane fray Ib. 1253.
He … bad that thay suld tak na fray 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 54.
Ingland is in ane great fray for fear of the Spainische airmy 1639 Baillie I. 206.
The West being in no small frayes for the Irish invasion

2. An attack or assault causing alarm: a disturbance, uproar, or noisy conflict. ?1438 Alex. ii. 1592.
Ane suddand fray on thame we mak Ib. 3681.
Nane sall oppin the ȝet … na mak na fray c1475 Wall. v. 154.
The fray was great, and fast away thai ȝeid a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 156.
To lang ȝe stand now in exil, Throw quhilk I feir that follow sall a fray 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 7.
So bustuus grew the noys and furyus fray 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 240.
Gif thair cum ony sodane fray to the toun, be incursiones of thevis or innemeis 1564 Reg. Privy B. I. 270.
The personis … warnit and chargit be the said Erle, … and nocht passand furthwart to the frayis 1569-73 Bann. Memor. iii.
Thair was a fray vpoun the captanes suddeartis … becaus two men … schot thair pistolis a1639 Spotsw. Hist. 306.
Some honest man to watch and give warning to the countrey where the fray is 1665 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 21.
He had keiped the haill shyre of Rosse in fray and feir of weir

b. Warning of a disturbance or attack. 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 61.
All thaim that beis warnit be bels, outhornys, frays, and crys or uthairwise 1567 Ib. 585.
Quhen ony cumpanyis of thevis … cummis ower the swyris … that all our … liegis … crie on hie, raise the fray, and follow thame 1569 Ib. II. 42.
Thair tenentis and servandis … sall raise the fray, schout, and birne baillis 1600-1610 Melvill 516.
Out come ane with a gryt fray, and sayis, ‘The Papistis ar in armes’attrib. 1681 Peebles B. Rec. II. 100.
The counsell … fynes Archibald Halden … for ringing the fray bell

3. A noise or din. a1540 Freiris Berw. 197.
Ȝone is Symone that makis all this fray 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2952.
The officers persauit the weiping, … And demandit quhairfoir thay maid the fray