freke
nounEtymology 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”).
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
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:
3
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: