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Webster 1913 Edition


Friar

Fri′ar

,
Noun.
[OR.
frere
, F.
frère
brother,
friar
, fr. L.
frater
brother. See
Brother
.]
1.
(R. C. Ch.)
A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz:
(a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans.
(b) Augustines
.
(c) Dominicans or Black Friars.
(d) White Friars or Carmelites.
See these names in the Vocabulary.
2.
(Print.)
A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3.
(Zool.)
An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird
(Zool.)
,
an Australian bird (
Tropidorhynchus corniculatus
), having the head destitute of feathers; – called also
coldong
,
leatherhead
,
pimlico
;
poor soldier
, and
four-o’clock
.
The name is also applied to several other species of the same genus. –
Friar's balsam
(Med.)
,
a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin.
Brande & C.
Friar's cap
(Bot.)
,
the monkshood.
Friar's cowl
(Bot.)
,
an arumlike plant (
Arisarum vulgare
) with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl.
Friar's lantern
,
the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp.
Milton.
Friar skate
(Zool.)
,
the European white or sharpnosed skate (
Raia alba
); – called also
Burton skate
,
border ray
,
scad
, and
doctor
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Friar

FRI'AR

,
Noun.
[L. frater. See Brother.]
1.
An appellation common to the monks of all orders; those who enter religious orders considering themselves as a fraternity or brotherhood. Friars are generally distinguished into four principal branches, viz: 1. Minors, gray friars or Franciscans; 2. Augustines; 3. Dominicans or black friars; 4. White Friars or Carmelites.
2.
In a restricted sense, a monk who is not a priest; those friars who are in orders being called fathers.

Definition 2024


friar

friar

English

Noun

friar (plural friars)

  1. A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (grey friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).
  2. (printing, dated) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
  3. An American fish, the silverside.

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

  • (member of religious order): sister

Derived terms

Translations


Swedish

Verb

friar

  1. present tense of fria.