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freke. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
freke, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
freke in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
freke you have here. The definition of the word
freke will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
freke, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Middle English freke (“a bold man, warrior, man, creature”), from Old English freca (“a bold man, warrior, hero”), from Proto-West Germanic , from Proto-Germanic *frekô (“an active or eagre man, warrior, wolf”), from *frekaz (“active, bold, desirous, greedy”), from Proto-Indo-European *preg- (“to shrug, be quick, twitch, splash, blast”). Akin with Old Norse freki (“greedy or avaricious one, a wolf”), Old High German freh (“eager”), Old English frēcne (“dangerous, daring, courageous, bold”).
Noun
freke (plural frekes or freken)
- (obsolete) A brave man, a warrior, a man-at-arms
1540, Destruction of Troy:Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght.
1891, Henry Morley, A Bundle of Ballads:There was never a freke one foot would flee, but still in stour did stand.
- (obsolete) A man; a human being; a person.
1225, St. Katherine of Alexandria:þes fifti, alle ferliche freken.
1475, Book of Courtesy:Go not forthe as a dombe freke.
- (obsolete) A creature such as a giant, demon, angel
1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:Bringing my love, for Time’s a freke of jealous strain; […]
References
- Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 1911, freke
- Middle English Dictionary, freke