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.

Frer(e, Freir, n. Also: freyr, freiour, freier, frear, freer, frier. [ME. frere (c 1290), freer(e, OF. frere.]

1. A friar.Frequently with nouns or adjectives denoting the various orders of friars. For these see the special terms or separate entries as Blak frere, Gray frere, etc.(a) 1375 Barb. xviii. 300.
A richt sturdy frer he sent Without the ȝet a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 302.
Eftir Pelagius thu spere, That is a full haly frere c1420 Wynt. viii. 676.
Off the orderis off the freris, Augustynys and Corduleris [etc.] Ib. 1821.
Leryd and lawde, nwne and frere c1420 Ratis R. 729.
I am nother monk nore frere That cau discryf thar fals missouris Sa weil [etc.] 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 276.
Giffin to the frere to pay the werkmen for casting of the ȝard dykis of Striuelin 1533 Gau 25.
As dois the monkis and freris in the obseruance of thair tradicions 1545 Stirling B. Rec. 41.
You leid that said Annapill Graheme wes ane freris get and freris yawde 1562-3 Winȝet I. 110/20.
Quhy will nocht ȝe chanounis, munkis, freris, preistis, nunnis keip the samin reull?(b) 1535 Stewart 46924.
Thomas Aquen, of black habit ane freir 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 355.
Ane sand glass to sett besyde the freir in the polpet 1566 Peebles B. Rec. 302.
Gilbert Browne, sumtyme freir, and the rest of his breider, sumtyme freirris a1578 Pitsc. I. 312/11.
The flame of fyre … blew wpoun the freir that accusit him 1595 Three Reformers 104.
We have had worthie men before, … As the gude Regent with his freeres 1603 Moysie 78.
Word come … that the King of France wes slayne … be a freier 1654 Blairs P. 125.
I haue been mindful … also [of] the English freeres, who did much for them(c) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1819 (C).
Lerit na lawit, none na freyr 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 70.
The freyris ornamentis and chalecisse a1540 Freiris Berw. 432 (M).
Than Symon said on to the freyr anone Ib. 563.
Thus my taill I end heir of the freyr(d) 1562 Inverness B. Rec. I. 89.
To preistis, freiouris, clerkis, … and wther funerall expensis 1558-66 Knox I. 40.
The same frear maid ane vther sermoun of the Abbote Unreassone

b. Placed before the personal name. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 289.
Men wend at hir name Frer Pelagius ay had bene c1420 Wynt. vi. 1477.
As Frere Martyne sayis 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 115.
That ilk day frer John Jamson com to the curt 1473 Lanark & Renfrew 194.
Frere John mure, wicar generall of the ordour of prechouris 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 157.
To the lech that helit frer Iohn Litstair of rymbirst a1540 Freiris Berw. 33.
Twa of the Jacobyne freiris, … Freir Allane and Freir Robert the vder 1581 Burne Disput. 62 b.
Frere Martine Lauter … passed mair cannelie to vorke 1600 Cath. Tract. 242/8.
Frere Jhone Craig, wha cnst of his coule

2. pl. The quarters occupied by a body of friars; a friary. 1375 Barb. ii. 33.
He … with Schyr Ihone the Cumyn met, In the freris, at the hye awter c1420 Wynt. ix. 1683.
At Sanctjohnestone besid the Freris All thai entrit in barreris 1531 Bell. Boece II. 380.
The seruand … schew that he [sc. Comyn] wes in the freiris of Dunfries a1578 Pitsc. II. 140/29.
Thay convenit ane provintial … to be haldin in the blak freiris

3. Attrib. with dykis, kirk, knottis, landis, wynd. c1420 Wynt. viii. 4492.
Thai till Edynburgh held the way; In at the Frere Wynd entryd thai 1478 Acta Aud. 78/1.
The landis callit the freredykis pertening to the said abbot & conuent [of Melrose] 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 83.
A chenȝe of gold maid in fassone of frere knottis 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 69.
Ane bonet of clayth, with ane tergat and fourtie fyve settis lyk pillaris. and freir knottis betuix 1535 Stewart 58844.
He … bureit was … In the freir kirk at the hie altar end 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 199.
As twicheing the thirdis of the … freir landis … the Lord Regent sall make sute to the Kirk 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 41.
Their is neither ane foundatioun for hospitalitie in anie of theese parochines, nor … frier lands within the samyn 1632 Lanark B. Rec. 326.
All and haill the saidis frierlandis … of auld doitit and gevin furthe of the landis … of the said burghe