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.
†FRECK, adj. Also frack, and deriv. forms freckle, frackle.
1. Bold, eager, ready; forward, impetuous. Also in n.Eng. dial.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 159:
The freckest whiles hae own't her dought.Slk. 1807 Hogg Mountain Bard 44:
My freckle brethren ne'er will staye Till they're avengit.Sc. 1820 Scott Abbot xxxiv.:
One of the frackest youths in Scotland.Dmf. 1822 A. Cunningham Trad. Tales II. 201:
The frackest lads of Annanbank, The Hallidays for me.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 119:
Hae ye your man by acht o'clock, A' frack and furnish't for the shock.n.Sc. 1834 H. Miller Scenes and Leg. (1874) 288:
Look ye, my frack young man, your weird may have hemp in it, an' sae ye may tempt salt water when ye like.
2. Stout, able-bodied, vigorous, active (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1777 Weekly Mag. (3 July) 20:
Heigh, man! you're unco dung, sair fell'd wi' eild, An' weel I mind you whan a frackle chield.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A freck auld man, a freck carl, “commonly applied to one who although advanced in life retains a considerable degree of vigour and activity.”Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 68:
Nae surfeit rises frae our meal, We're ay fu' freck an' stark an' hale.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 210:
He's a freck aul' body at his age.
