A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1513-1610
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Frakly, Fra(c)klie, adv. Also: fracly, -lie, frekly. [f. Frak,a. Cf. ME. frekly (14th c.), vrechliche (c 1205).] Smartly, quickly, actively.(a) 1375 Barb. vii. 166.
Thai … fell rycht frakly for till et 1513 Doug. viii. vii. 164.
Wondir frakly thai Onto thar laubour can thame all addres 1535 Stewart 2566.
Fraklie that tyme thai enterit in the feild 1535 Ib. 36480.
Than vp he rais rycht fraklie on his feit 1570 Satirical Poems xiii. 209.
Fall to thame fraklie, to fecht thay haif na faces(b) 1558-66 Knox I. 220.
Thei schote fracklie a whill 1586 Gray Lett. & P. 101.
Quhou nobly and fracly the King spak … in this maiter 1600-1610 Melvill 362.
The gentilmen offerit tham selves verie fraclie for resistance c1610 Melville Mem. 86.
Then he lap on horsbak and cam fracly to the court(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 198/27.
Richard … maid frekly to battell
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"Frakly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/frakly>
