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.
Quotation dates: 1752, 1827, 1923
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FRAY, n. Sc. usages, previously obs. in Eng.:
†1. Fright, a state of fear. Arch.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 157:
Ky on Ida's taps confoundit Ran down the hills for fray.
2. A fuss, stir.Sc. 1752 D. Hume in Arniston Memoirs (1887) 157:
They could not imagine that so great a fray could be raised about so mere a trifle.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
They were makin' a fray.
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"Fray n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/fray>
