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.
FREET, v. Also freat, freit, friet. Sc. forms of Eng. fret, †to eat into, corrode; to chafe (Fif. 1953). Vbl.n. freeting, discontent, vexation. Ppl.adj. †freitten, fretten, seamed, pitted, deeply marked, as in comb. pock-freitten, pitted by small-pox (Sc. 1887 Jam.). [fri:t]Sc. 1684 Narr. of James Nimmo (S.H.S.) 57:
Which in a litle begot some confusion in my minde, so that several times, there arose secret freetings and quarrelings.Ayr. 1789 Burns Five Carlins xx.:
For fools will freat o' right or wrang, while knaves laugh them to scorn. [The version given in Lockhart's Life viii.]Ags. c.1870 in Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) IX. 406:
My son sleeps in Egypt — It's nae ease to freit — An' yet when I think o't I'm sair like to greet.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 149:
If . . . something of the general heat In his thaw'd breast begin to friet!
