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.

Freke, Freik, n. Also: frek, frieke. [ME. freke, OE. freca.] a. A bold or fighting man. b. Any man. (In both senses only in poetry, usually for alliteration.)(a) a1400 Leg. S. x. 433.
The kinge thane send a felone freke On the apostil hyme for to wryke c1420 Wynt. i. 359.
That frek … Coryne thrysted Till in his syde thre rybbys brystyde a1500 Henr. iii. 115/28.
I wes within thir sexty ȝeir … A frek one fold, als fair, … as ȝe c1475 Wall. vii. 485.
Feill frekis thar thai feris dang to dede c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 324.
I had sic favour to that freke, and feid syne for euer c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 140 b/12.
To heir sa hairtly thay hoist, Tha frekis ar sa fant(b) c1475 Wall. ii. 396.
A felloune freik thow semys in thy fair a1500 Gol. & Gaw 1080.
Sal neuer freik on fold … Gar me lurk for ane luke 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 123.
‘Ha, wald thou fecht’, quod the freik 1535 Stewart 27869.
Full mony freik war fellit thair on force c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 666.
Quhat may ȝone fell freik be? 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 5.
Sen ȝe ar freikis that weil dar fecht but feir a1605 Montg. Flyt. 299 (T).
The falling evill, that fellis mony freikis 1631 Craig v. 34.
Then franklie the frieke fuire, … And to her palfray hee past