Posted by John Nichols on March 28, 2005 at 17:22:45 from 165.91.196.105 user Mcneacail.
In Reply to: Re: Coarse Language? posted by Peter Ceresole on March 27, 2005 at 13:06:06:
OED search the prefered is freck.
We now have a new word to submit to OED for Ransome - well done
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.
a1000 c1205 1352
a1300 c1450 a1572
1560-
78 1820
1819
a1000 Boeth. Metr. viii. 15 Hwęt hi firenlusta frece ne węron. c1205 LAY. 9419 To heo eoden alle afoten & swie freche weoren. a1300 Cursor M. 5198 To bidd hast now es nan sa frek. 1352 Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 68 Doghty men..That war ful frek to fight. c1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4441 He was freke his name to frayne. 1560-78 Bk. Discipl. Ch. Scot. (1621) Pref., Frack to preach the Gospell in Scotland, as in another Antiochia. a1572 KNOX Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 104 The merchantis maid frack to saill. 1819 W. TENNANT Papistry Storm'd (1827) 119 Hae ye your man by acht o'clock, A' frack and furnish't for the shock. 1820 SCOTT Abbot xxxiv, You know whether I am so frack as the serving-man spoke him.
b. In bad sense: Greedy, gluttonous; also, keen for mischief.
c950 c1275
a1225
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xi. 19 Heonu monn fric. a1225 Ancr. R. 128 e vox is ec a wrecche vrech best, and fret swue wel mid alle. c1275 O.E. Misc. 75 Ac sathanas e frecche e saule wule drecche, Hwanne he agult habbe.
2. Lusty, strong, vigorous.
1569
1500-
20 1820
1500-20 DUNBAR Poems liii. 23 On all the flwre thair was nane frackar. 1569 in Napier Mem. (1793) 127 Thou art the frackest felow amang them. 1820 SCOTT Abbot xxxiv, Unlikely men to stay one of the frackest youths in Scotland of his years.