Dictionary

freke en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English freke (“a bold man, warrior, man, creature”), from Old English freca (“a bold man, warrior, hero”), from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], 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”).

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A brave man, a warrior, a man-at-arms.
   • Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght. 1540, Destruction of Troy:
   • There was never a freke one foot would flee, but still in stour did stand. 1891, Henry Morley, A Bundle of Ballads:
2. (Scotland, alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete form of freak.
   alt of freak
3. (obsolete) A man; a human being; a person.
   • þes fifti, alle ferliche freken. 1225, St. Katherine of Alexandria:
   • Go not forthe as a dombe freke. 1475, Book of Courtesy:
4. (obsolete) A creature such as a giant, demon, angel.
   • Bringing my love, for Time’s a freke of jealous strain; […] 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night:

Forms