Dictionary

froe en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /fɹəʊ/ (UK)
• /fɹoʊ/ (US)

Etymology

Abbreviation of obsolete frower, from froward (“turned away”), referring to the orientation of the blade, at right angles to the handle. From late 16th century.

Meanings

1. A cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood.
   • Patch shingles on the barn roof: do we have a maul and froe? 1997, Charles Frazier, chapter 4, in Cold Mountain, London: Hodder and Stoughton, page 88:

Forms

Deriveds

froe club

Synonyms

throe

Translations (2)

pt fendeleira (cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood) · ru колу́н (cleaving tool for splitting cask staves and shingles from a block of wood)

wikipedia: Oxford English Dictionary

froe en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /fɹəʊ/ (UK)
• /fɹoʊ/ (US)

Etymology

See frow.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A dirty woman; a slattern; a frow.
   • 1630, Michael Drayton, Nymphal IV, [from The Muses Elizium], 1793, The Works of the British Poets, Volume 3: Drayton, Carew & Suckling, page 618, Like to thoſe raging frantic froes / For Bacchus' feaſts prepared;

Forms