friar
nounUK /ˈfɹaɪə/ · US /ˈfɹaɪɚ/
Etymology PIE word *bʰréh₂tēr From Middle English frere, from Old French frere, from Latin frāter (“brother”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr (“brother”). Doublet of bhai, brother, bru, frater, pal, and vai.
1
A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (grey friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).
2
Media, Printing, Publishing Dated A white or pale patch on a printed page caused by poor inking.
3
An American fish, the silverside.
4
Such fish prepared as food.
- Derived terms
- black friar, curtal friar, friarbird, friar bird, friaress, friarhood, friarlike, friarly, Friar Minor, Friar Preacher, friar's balsam, friar's cap, friar's cowl, friarship, friar's omelette, friary, greyfriar, grey friar, grayfriar, gray friar, preaching friar, white friar