Etymology From Middle English *frist, frest, first, furst, from Old English fierst (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic *fristiz, *frestą (“date, appointed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *pres-, *per- (“forward, forth, over, beyond”). Cognate with North Frisian ferst, frest (“period, time”), German Frist (“period, deadline, term”), Swedish frist (“deadline, respite, reprieve, time-limit”), Icelandic frestur (“period”). See also first.
1
Obsolete A certain space or period of time; respite.
2
UK, Dialectal Time allotted for repayment; a term (in which a debt is to be repaid); a delay; respite; suspension.
His was a short frist (He had a short life).
Yitt they caused the lordis that war vpoun on the panell, that schould have thoalled judgment, to find cautioun everie ane of thame, vnder the paine of certane soumes, to answer at ane certane apoynted to thame. Yitt all thir lordis war verrie blyth, think and that all evill was guid of frist, in speciall the lord David Lindsay was so blyth at his brothers sayingis, that he burst furth, saying to him: "Verrilie brother, yea have fyne pyatt wordis. I wold not have trowed, be St Amarie, that yea had sick wordis".1578, Robert Lindsay, The Cronicles of Scotland:
2 more examples
All Ills are good a frist.1721, James Kelly, Scottish Proverbs:
My time is short, my frist is o'er, and I have much to say.1888, Murray's Magazine:
Sald tham to fryst to a man of the Hag, […] Sold them to frist to a man of The Hague, […]1492–1503, Andrew Halyburton, Andrew Halyburton's ledger
Ane dyvour coffe, that wirry hen, / Distroyis the honor of our natioun, / Takis gudis to frist fra fremmit men, / And brekis his obligatioun. One bankrupt rouge , that wirry hen, / destroys the honor of our nation / takes goods to frist from fremd men, / and breaks his obligation.a1568, Sir David Lindsay, Ane Discriptioun of Peder Coffeis
1 more example
Credit and frist is quyte away, / No thing is lent bot for usure; […]c. 1568, William Lauder, The Lamenatioun of The Pure:
frist
verb
Etymology From Middle English *fristen, frysten, fresten, firsten, from Old English *fyrstan (“to defer, delay, put off”), from fyrst, fierst, first (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”). See Etymology 1. Cognate with Low German versten, German fristen (“to eke out”), Danish friste (“to sustain, support, experience, tempt”), Icelandic fresta (“to delay”).
1
UK, Dialectal To grant respite; especially, to give a debtor credit or time for payment.
Now, in the strength of Jesus, dispatch your business; that debt is not forgiven, but fristed: death hath not bidden you farewel, but hath only left you for a short season.1765, Samuel Rutherford, Joshua Redivivus, page 323:
Na, na, lassie. Dinna be too confident. “What's fristed is no forgotten."1884, Lucy Ellen Guernsey, Loveday's History: A Tale of Many Changes, page 105:
1 more example
Alexander's early backsliding, when "he thrawed his mouth" at the minister — a sin beside which the modern lèse majesté seems venial, —had been fristed but not forgiven, and again he was summoned to appear before the session.1924, James S. Wilkie, The History of Fife, page 553: