Fray Definition
frā
frayed, fraying, frays
noun
frays
A noisy quarrel or fight; brawl.
Webster's New World
A heated dispute or intensely competitive situation.
American Heritage
A frayed place, as in cloth.
Webster's New World
A military engagement; a battle.
American Heritage
(archaic) Fright.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb
frayed, fraying, frays
To strain; chafe.
Repeated noises that fray the nerves.
American Heritage
To frighten.
Webster's New World
To wear away (the edges of fabric, for example) by rubbing.
American Heritage
To drive away.
American Heritage
To make or become worn, ragged, or raveled by rubbing.
Webster's New World
Origin of Fray
-
From Middle English fraien, from Old French frayer, from Latin fricāre, present active infinitive of fricō.
From Wiktionary
Middle English fraien to wear, bruise from Old French fraier to rub from Latin fricāre
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
Middle English frai shortening of affrai affray
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Middle English frai, aphetic variant of affray.
From Wiktionary
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