Posted by Allan_Lang on March 28, 2005 at 17:36:30 from 202.61.171.25 user Allan_Lang.
In Reply to: Re: Coarse Language? posted by John Nichols on March 28, 2005 at 17:22:45:
Obs. exc. Sc.
(frk, fręk) Forms: . 1 frec, 3 frech, south. vrech, 4 freck, -kk(e, 4-5 frek(e, (5 freik), 8-9 Sc. freck. . Sc. 6-7 frak, 6-9 frack. [Com. Teut.: OE. frec, fric, fręc = OHG. freh covetous, greedy (MHG. vrech courageous, Ger. frech bold, insolent), ON. frekr greedy (Sw. frack daring, Da. fręk), Goth. (faihu) friks (fee-)greedy, covetous. Cf. FRIKE a., which seems to have been confused with this word.]1. Desirous, eager, prompt, quick, ready. Const. gen. (OE. only) to with n. or v. in inf. to make freck: to make ready.
Halliwell re. my post above (or below, if you're reading this on 'Latest Posts') indicates the Northern meaning of the word is "Forward: Eager" which fits that.
But it's probably not the meaning Ransome intended
I'm still going with the Eastern meaning of "to abound, swarm, or throng"