frim, a. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 1 freme, 4 frym, 6–7 frimm(e, (7 frime, 8 frem), 7– frim.
[OE. fręme:—prehistoric *frami-, cognate with fram adj., forward, advanced, bold.]
a. Vigorous, flourishing; after OE. only in physical sense (or fig. of this), luxuriant in growth, plump, full-fleshed. b. Abundant in sap, juicy, full of moisture; rarely in unfavourable sense. Also of sap: Abundant, rich. c. Easily melting, soluble, fusible.
| Beowulf 1932 Mod Þryðo wæᵹ fremu folces cwen. c 1000 Cædmon's Gen. 2328 (Gr.) Ic þam magorince mine sylle godcunde gife gastes mihtum, freondsped fremum. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 1078, & twelue syþez on ȝer þay beren ful frym [fruits]. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 5 Cast on þe powder of hare I wot; Hit is so frym, ren hyt wylle An malt as sugur. 1589 Mar Martine 3 Abbots were fat and friers frimme. 1600 Holland Livy vi. vii. (1609) 221 Those nations that by long peace were most frimme and lustie [ex integerrimis]. 1601 ― Pliny I. 348 Many are so frim and free of milke, that [etc.]. Ibid. 463 The timber also is more frim and soft. 1604 Drayton Owle 5 The frim sap..From the full root, doth swell the plenteous rynde. 1613 ― Poly-olb. xiii, My frim and lusty flank Her bravery then displays. 1622 Ibid. xxvii, Her deare daughter Dale, which her frim Cheeke doth lay To her cleere mothers Breast. 1657 Austen Fruit Trees i. 136 Seede plants are commonly more frim straight and handsome, then wood-stocks. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 224 If May and June prove wet Months, it causes a Frimm and Frothy Grass. 1712 Morton Northamptonshire 51 The fremmest..that is the richest feeding land we have. 1736 W. Ellis New Exp. Husb. 54 The shorter and younger the grass, the frimmer is the Sap. 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict. O j b, Potter's Ore..is so frim and fusible that a great deal of this sort is sold. 1750 W. Ellis Mod. Husb. IV. i. 151 A frim growing time. 1888 Sheffield Gloss. s.v., This lettuce is very frim. |
Hence ˈfrimness.
| c 1714 T. Bates in Athenæum No. 1982 (1865) 535/3 The frimness of the grass. 1736 W. Ellis New Exp. Husb. 64 We..sow a Mixture of Clover..to allay its Frimness. |