Fray (?), n. [Abbreviated from affray.]
Affray; broil; contest; combat.
Who began this bloody fray?
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Fray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fraying.] [See 1st Fray, and cf. Affray.]
To frighten; to terrify; to alarm.
I. Taylor.
What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
Spenser.
© Webster 1913.
Fray, v. t. [Cf. OF. fraier. See Defray, v. t.]
To bear the expense of; to defray.
[Obs.]
The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed, I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
Massinger.
© Webster 1913.
Fray, v. t. [OF. freier, fraier, froier, to rub. L. fricare; cf. friare to crumble, E. friable; perh. akin to Gr. to anoint, an anointing, Skr. ghsh to rub, scratch. Cf. Friction.]
To rub; to wear off, or wear into shreds, by rubbing; to fret, as cloth; as, a deer is said to fray her head.
© Webster 1913.
Fray, v. i.
1.
To rub.
We can show the marks he made
When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
To wear out or into shreads, or to suffer injury by rubbing, as when the threads of the warp or of the woof wear off so that the cross threads are loose; to ravel; as, the cloth frays badly.
A suit of frayed magnificience.
tennyson.
© Webster 1913.
Fray, n.
A fret or chafe, as in cloth; a place injured by rubbing.
© Webster 1913.