▪ I. fresh, a.1, adv. and n.1
(frɛʃ)
Forms: α. 1 fersc, 3 fersse, ferchs, south. uer(i)sse, 4 fersch(e. β. 3 Orm. fressh, 3–5 fress(e, 3–6 freche, fres(s)ch(e, 4 fraiche, frechs, 4–5 freys(s(he, freyssche, 4–6 fres(s)h(e, 4 freisch, 5 freisshe, 4– fresh.
[The αforms, which are not found later than the 14th c., represent OE. fersc (recorded only in senses 4 and 5, opposed to ‘salt’), corresponding to Du. versch, OHG. frisc (MHG. vrisch, mod.Ger. frisch; used in senses approximately identical with those found in Eng.), ON. fersk-r (Sw. färsk, Da. fersk; chiefly in physical senses; the mod.Icel. fr{iacu}sk, Sw., Da. frisk, are adopted from Ger.):—OTeut. *frisko-. As the βforms (with fre-) do not occur till the 13th c., it is most likely that they are due to adoption of OF. freis masc., fresche fem. (mod.F. frais, fraîche), = Pr. fresc, Sp., Pg., It. fresco, a Com. Rom. adoption of OTeut. *frisko-.
The senses first occurring in ME. coincide substantially with those in OF.; how far they were introduced from that language, and how far they descend from unrecorded OE. uses, cannot be determined.
The ultimate etymology of OTeut. *frisko- is obscure. Kluge compares OSl. prĕsĭnŭ fresh (:—*praiskino), Lith. prëskas unleavened, and Finn. rieska- unleavened.]
A. adj. I. New, recent.
1. a. New, novel; not previously known, used, met with, introduced, etc. † Also absol. in advb. phr. of, on fresh = afresh.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter Cant. 516 New & freyss goddis come. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xliii. 165 The battayl beganne of fresshe to be sore fyers. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 302 b, Than thy payne began of fresshe to be renewed. 1637 Milton Lycidas 193 To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new. 1639 Fuller Holy Warre (1647) i. xvi. 25 This sight so inspirited the Christians, that coming in on fresh, they obtained a most glorious victorie. 1748 F. Smith Voy. Disc. I. 9 The Fog..presenting continually fresh Objects. 1777 Burke Corr. (1844) II. 162 That fresh concern and anxiety which attends those who [etc.]. 1798 Malthus Popul. (1878) 3 Very severe labour is requisite to clear a fresh country. 1813 Byron Ch. Har. iii. lv. 529 Its [river's] thousand turns disclose Some fresher beauty. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 31 There are few traces of fresh research or new matter produced. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. I. i. 384 And with fresh hope came on the fresh May⁓day. 1888 Times 12 Nov. 13/3 The untoward fate of plays that break fresh ground. |
b. In weaker sense: Additional, another, other, different, further.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xxii. 243 Then thei maken fressche men redye. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxvii. 209 Than suld I haif a fresch feir to fang in mynn armes. 1532 More Confut. Tyndale Wks. 675 In the conclusion of al that tale, he knitteth it vp with a freshe lusty poynt. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 644 In which way having gotten fresh helpe of some other streames. 1674 N. Cox Gentl. Recreat. i. (1677) 16 The Hounds..take fresh scent, hunting another Chase. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 14 ¶7 The Troops of the Allies have fresh Orders dispatched to them. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 452 ¶2 Our Time lies heavy on our Hands till the Arrival of a fresh Mail. 1721 Bailey, Fresh Spell..a fresh Gang to relieve the Rowers in the Long-Boat. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xiii. 106 Several fresh spectators were yet to see the sight. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 198 Interest was seldom allowed to be turned into principal, except upon the advance of fresh money. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 153 One fresh concession..was easily obtained from the restored king. 1896 Law Times C. 408/2 We must begin a fresh paragraph. |
2. a. Recent; newly made, recently arrived, received, or taken in.
Cf. Fr. frais.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5307 Woundes..Þat fressche sal sem and alle bledand. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 172 So þat þe wounde be freisch and not oold hurt. 1535 Coverdale 1 Sam. xxi. 6 The Shewbredes..were taken vp before the Lorde, that there might be other freshbredes set therin. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. Pref. (1845) 11, I was fain..to insert..some of a much fresher date. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 9 This Morn by fresh Advice he was assured [etc.]. 1704 Swift T. Tub Apol., The Author was then young..and his reading fresh in his head. 1748 F. Smith Voy. Disc. I. 146 Seeing whether the Marks of their Teeth are fresh or not. 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain i. 16 The ministers of Ferdinand VII could not please him more than by laying before him a fresh express or dispatch. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxvii. 204 The floor..was covered with snow, and on it were the fresh footmarks of a little animal. |
b. Newly come or taken
from,
out of.
| 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 31 Great yellow Frogs also are admired, especially when they come fresh out of the Pond. 1700 Dryden Fables, Cock & Fox 289 The hue and cry of Heaven pursues him at the heels, Fresh from the fact. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 330 By forms unfashioned, fresh from Nature's hand. 1816 Keatinge Trav. (1817) I. 45 A..production..fresh from the press. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) II. 209 An heiress quite fresh from Bengal. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 673 The narrative..was fresh from the lips of an Englishman. |
c. Law.
fresh force (
AF. fresche force,
Anglo-Lat. frisca fortia),
fresh disseisin:
= ‘novel disseisin’; see
quots. and
disseisin 1 b.
fresh fine,
fresh pursuit,
fresh suit: one made or levied immediately or within a short prescribed interval.
| [1292 Britton i. xix. §6 Deforceours et purprestours par fresche force.] 1419 Liber Albus (Rolls) I. 173 Item, de assisis Novæ Disseisinæ, vocatis ‘Fresshforce’. 1538 Fitzherb. Just. Peas 132 b, Upon any out crie, hute or freshesuit for any felonye. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636) 64 But if he [the owner] make fresh pursuit he may take his goods from the thiefe. 1641 Termes de la Ley 169 An Assise or Bil of fresh force brought within 40 daies after the force committed, or title to him accrued. Ibid. 171 Fresh suit. 1670 Blount Law Dict., Fresh Disseisin [see disseisin 1 b]. 1721 Bailey, Fresh suit. 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Fresh-fine, a fine which has been levied within a year. |
3. Making one's first acquaintance with a position, society, etc.; raw, inexperienced; unsophisticated, ‘green’. Also (
University slang), characteristic of a freshman.
| 1595 Shakes. John iii. iv. 145 How green you are, and fresh in this old world. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier ii. 184 Between two Armies both made up of fresh Men, that have never seen any Service. 1724 R. Falconer Voy. (1769) 11 Reserv'd by the old Sailors..must not be touch'd by the fresh Men, as they call 'em. 1815 E. S. Barrett Heroine III. 9 If I don't tell the coach-maker what a fresh one he was, to give you his barouche on tick. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey iv. v, Did you ever fight a duel? No!.. Well! you are fresh, indeed! 1834 Oxf. Univ. Mag. I. 101 It is very fresh to walk about in academic costume with a stick in his hand. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xix. 237 He was a perfectly fresh man, not having yet undertaken a journey. |
II. Having the signs of newness.
4. a. Of perishable articles of food, etc.: New, in contradistinction to being artificially preserved; (of meat) not salted, pickled, or smoked; (of butter) without salt; (of fruits, etc.) not dried or preserved in sugar or the like.
| α 901–9 Charter of Eadweard in Cod. Dipl. V. 164 Tu rieðeru oðer sealt oðer fersc. |
| β 1388 Wyclif Num. vi. 3 Thei schulen not ete freisch grapis and drie [uvas recentes siccasve]. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 347 Adepis porci antiqui sine sale id est freisch swynys grese molten. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 630 Fresche lamprey bake þus it must be dight. c 1483 Caxton Vocab. 5 Flesh of bueff saltede shall be good with the mustarde. The fressh with gharlyk. Ibid. 6 Fressh hering.. Reede heeryng. 1541 Act 33 Hen. VIII, c. 2 No..person..shall..by anie freshe fyshe of anie estraunger in..Flaunders. 1620 Venner Via Recta v. 91 There is made a kinde of Iuncket, called in most places a Fresh-Cheese. 1648 Gage West Ind. xix. 143 They will buy..a Riall worth of fresh meat to eat on the Lords day. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 365 And seek fresh Forrage to sustain their Lives. 1811 A. T. Thomson Lond. Disp. (1818) 606 If in the dry state, by pulverization, or, if fresh, by slicing. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 314 During several months, even the gentry tasted scarcely any fresh animal food. 1864 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 234 Three pounds of fresh butter at twenty pence a pound. |
| absol. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 7290 Made hem at aise with fresche and selt. |
¶ b. (See
quot.)
Obs. rare—1. (Perh. some error.)
| 1530 Palsgr. 313/1 Fresshe or lussyouse as meate that is nat well seasoned, or hath an unplesante swetnesse in it, fade. |
5. a. Of water: Not salt or bitter; fit for drinking.
† Also of a marsh: Containing fresh as opposed to salt water; watered by a river (
obs.).
[A
Com. Teut. sense:
prob. an extension of the notion ‘without salt’ as applied to meat (sense 4).]
| α c 893 K. ælfred Oros. ii. iv. §6 [Eufrates] is mæst eallra ferscra wætera. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 316/597 Þe sonne..makez þe wateres breþi up-riȝt..Boþe þe sees an ferchse wateres. |
| β 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiii. xxii. (1495) 455 For cause of..fresshe waters that come therto the see..is more fresshe. c 1440 Jacob's Well (E.E.T.S.) 39 Of fysschyng of freschwatyr & of salt watyr, þe tythe owȝte to be payed. a 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2224 A fresche well was þer besyde. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 26 In this deserte are..founde bytter waters: but more often fresshe and sweete waters. 1576 Act 18 Eliz. c. 10 §10 No Acre of fresh Marsh..[shall] be taxed above the Rate of a Penny..nor of every ten Acres of salt Marsh above the Rate of a Penny. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. vii. 19 Our men quietly landed and tooke in fresh water. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. iv. 419 Tempests are kinde, and salt waues fresh in loue. 1670 D. Denton Descr. N. York (1845) 19 These woods also every mile..or half-mile are furnished with fresh ponds, brooks, or rivers. a 1691 Boyle Hist. Air (1692) 154 He always found the ice fresh that floated upon the sea-water. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. iii. 34 Sometimes we find them in salt Water, sometimes in fresh. 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4489/3, 119 Acres of fresh Marsh-Lands. 1775 Romans Hist. Florida 267 Another river..is very rich in fresh marsh. 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. II. 235 Throwing into large quantities of pure fresh water a few drops of volatile oil. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. 73 The great stream of fresh water which flows over Teddington Weir. |
b. Of or pertaining to such water.
† Of fish
= freshwater a.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 1 Engelond ys ful ynow..Of salt fysch and eche fresch, and fayre ryueres þer to. 1467 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 396 Fresshe fysshe as Tenches. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 128 Till the fresh taste be taken from that cleerenes, And made a brine pit with our bitter teares. 1608–11 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vows i. §8, I have oft wondred howe fishes can retaine their fresh taste, and yet live in salt waters. 1881 J. Payn Hum. Stories 294 The professional fisherman..whether he be salt or fresh. |
6. a. Untainted, pure; hence, possessed of active properties; invigorating, refreshing. Said
esp. of air (also in
attrib. phrases, as
fresh-air fiend or maniac, etc.) and water.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 11705 (Trin.) A welle out braste wiþ stremes clere fresshe & colde. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 16 There sprang a welle fresh and clere. 14.. Tundale's Vis. 1071 Sum of hom thei madyn nesche As is the water that is fresche. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xxii. 1 He..ledeth me to a fresh water. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iv. iii. 45 The fresh Streames ran by her, and murmur'd her moanes. 1611 ― Cymb. v. iii. 71 [Death] hides him in fresh Cups, soft Beds, Sweet words. 1648 Gage West Ind. xvii. 117 A fruit named Xocotte..it is fresh and cooling. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 771 They among fresh dews and flowers Flie to and fro. 1692 Ray Dissol. World 82 The inferiour Air..in the Night so very fresh and cold. 1749 Berkeley Word to Wise Wks. III. 440 It takes the peasant from his smoky cabin into the fresh air. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxii, The desire of fresh air..had carried her into the..garden. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §7 Fresh odours..that have an action akin to pure air. 1882 N.Y. Tribune 2 July 7/1 The work of the Fresh Air Fund..sending children for a week or two from poor homes in unhealthy quarters of the city to healthful villages and farms. 1908 Daily Chron. 6 July 4/4 The fresh-air cure has been..very much boomed of late years... One result of this has been the evolution of what I may term the fresh-air maniac. 1927 W. E. Collinson Contemp. Eng. 39 Before the war we had our fresh air fiends..and the hatless brigade. 1950 N. Cardus Second Innings 109 He went rambles all over the lakes—one of the first of the ‘fresh-air’ fiends. |
† b. Cool; see
cool a. 1 and 1 d.
Cf. Fr. frais.
In Romanic langs. a very prominent sense;
rare in
Eng.| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) iv. 29 Thei..sytten there [in dyches]..for thei may ben the more fressche. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. xi, Fresche alures with lusty hye pynacles. 1580 Frampton Dial. Yron & Steele 150 The Porche of the dore is verye freshe. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. v. 108 Here is constantly a fresh Sea breeze all Day, and cooling refreshing winds in the Night. |
7. a. Retaining its original qualities; not deteriorated or changed by lapse of time; not stale, musty, or vapid.
† Formerly often reduplicated
fresh and fresh (
cf. ‘hot and hot’).
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 36 Þe blode was boþe warme & fresh, þat of þe schankes lete. c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 352 An oynement..al freisch leie it þerto, for þe more freisch þat it is þe bettir it is. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 351 Tua bostis of gude wyne, Baith stark and freche. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xci[i]. 10 My horne..shal be anoynted with fresh oyle. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 158 b, See that their nestes bee very cleane, and kept still with freshe cleane strawe. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 128 Having restored me with fresh egges. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. iii. 55 The other Fish we took as we had occasion fresh and fresh. 1805 Dibdin in Naval Chron. XIII. 393 Burton ale—fresh or stale. 1823 Lamb Elia, Distant Correspondents, As fresh as if it came in ice. 1850 Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. xxx. 181 Roots of trees and wood in a fresher state than I ever saw them in any tertiary formation. 1859 G. Wilson Gateways Knowl. (ed. 3) 71 The..Mammoth remains fresh as on the day of its death. |
b. transf. of immaterial things.
| 14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 233 Trewloue is fress & euere neu. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 452 ¶5 By this means my Readers will have their News fresh and fresh. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 14 ¶6 To be able to tell the freshest news. 1802 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) I. 6/1 It is only by the fresh feelings of the heart that mankind can be very powerfully affected. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! (1861) 350 The genial smile of English mirth fresh on every lip. |
8. Not faded or worn; unfading, unobliterated. Said both of material and immaterial things.
| c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 66 They [i.e. the names] were As fresshe as men had writen hem there the selve day right. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 303 note, Wee might still have them, by continual view of their pictures, in freshe remembrance. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 68 Our garments are now as fresh as when we put them on. 1611 Bible Job xxix. 20 My glory was fresh in mee. 1626 Bacon Sylva §365 These Roses will retaine..their Colour fresh for a yeare at least. 1631 Gouge God's Arrows iii. lxxvi. 326 By such memorials the memory of Gods mercies is kept fresh. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 69 These antipathies..do still remaine..as fresh, as if Adam had but falne yesterday. 1711 Lond. Gaz. No. 4867/4 The Small Pox fresh upon him. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. vi. §27 Men..who lived..when the memory of things was fresh. 1837 Disraeli Venetia ii. i, An incident..as fresh in her memory as if it had occurred yesterday. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 447 Samuel Pepys, whose library and diary have kept his name fresh to our time. |
9. a. Not sullied or tarnished; bright and pure in colour; blooming, gay.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. Prol. 92 Upon the fresshe daysy to beholde. c 1386 ― Knt.'s T. 260 The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place. c 1400 Destr. Troy 997 Iason..hade fongit þe flese & þe fresshe gold. 1500–20 Dunbar Thistle & Rose 55 To luke vpone his [the sun's] fresche and blisfull face. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 74 Flourysshe the forenoone neuer so fresshe, at the last commeth the euentyde. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 3 Rhetorike..setteth forth those matters with freshe colours. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 1041 Flours were the Couch..Earths freshest, softest lap. 1749 F. Smith Voy. Disc. II. 28 The Green of the Pine..now looked fresh and pleasant. 1797 M. Baillie Morb. Anat. (1807) 37 He never had a fresh complexion, but it was always dark. 1801 Southey Thalaba iii. xxxvii, Her cheek Lost its fresh and lively hue. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. xxv. 177 Scarcely less exquisite than the freshest bloom of the Alpine rose. |
b. Of personal appearance: Blooming, looking healthy or youthful. Often
fresh and fair; also in proverbial phrases
fresh as paint,
fresh as a rose, etc.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1191 Dido, An huntyng wolde this lusti fresche queene. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. x. 29 Venus, the fresche Goddes..can draw nere. 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. xv. 267 The freshest Gospeller in appearance, in experience is found not to be the soundest. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. v. 29 Hast thou beheld a fresher Gentlewoman. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 94 A widow fresh and faire. 1800–24 Campbell Poems, Ritter Bann iv, 'Twas the Abbot of St. James's monks, A fresh and fair old man. 1815 E. S. Barrett Heroine III. 81 Forth they walked..as fresh as an oyster. Ibid. III. 155 As fresh as a daisy. 1877 Mrs. Oliphant Makers Flor. vi. 172 The fresh country ladies had to be warned against spoiling their natural roses with paint. 1881 Dr. Gheist 217 Though nearly seventy years of age, he is still hale and ‘fresh as paint’. 1885 Russell in Harper's Mag. Apr. 763/2 [They] see him emerge from his carriage, after a long journey, ‘fresh as a rose’. |
† c. Gaily attired, finely dressed.
Obs.| c 1440 Generydes 2037 Ther coursers trappid in the fressest wise. c 1460 Paston Lett. No. 437 II. 86 Perys of Legh come to Lynne opon Cristynmesse Even in the fresshest wise. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour C iij, To array and make me fresshe for them. 1530 Palsgr. 623/2 My maystresse maketh her fresshe, I wene she go out to some feest to daye. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxviii. 235 They rose & apparelled them in fresshe arraye. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 807/2 With manie a fresh gentleman riding before them. |
10. a. Not exhausted or fatigued; full of vigour and energy; brisk, vigorous, active.
† Of a country: Of unexhausted fertility.
| α 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 397 An hondred knyȝtes, pur fersse & sound. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3633 A fersche ost hem to help hastili þer come. |
| β c 1205 Lay. 9418 To heo eoden alle afoten: & swiðe freche weoren. 13.. K. Alis. 2405 He hadde y-hud..xx. thousand, That scholden come, on fresche steden. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 103 Þe kyng a seknes hent, þe dede him tok alle fresse. c 1400 Melayne 1528 Oure Britons bolde that fresche come in Thoghte that [etc.]. c 1450 Merlin 108 Kynge Aguysas..a freisshe yonge knyght, and with hym v C knyghtes. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cccxxxix. 532 They were nat strong ynough to abyde them that were fresshmen, for theymselfe were sore traueyled. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 26 The mornyng, when our wyttys be most redy and fresch. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 21 He mounted first on the one fresh horse, and afterwards upon the other, posting on. 1648 Gage West Ind. xiii. 74 This Country is very fresh and plentifull. 1843 James Forest Days v, Take with you three of your fellows whose horses are the freshest. 1863 M. E. Braddon J. Marchmont II. i. 3, I never felt fresher in my life. 1882 Daily Tel. 3 Jan., Ignition is probably the freshest of all the veterans. |
| absol. 1594 Daniel Compl. Rosamond cii, Or whilst we spend the freshest of our time, The sweet youth in plotting in the ayre; Alas how oft we fall, hoping to clime. |
† b. Recruited, refreshed, rested.
Obs.| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vii 162 Whan thei shall be fresshe, thenne shall ye mow make werre. 1700 Dryden Theod. & Honoria 187 Nor lies she long, but..Springs up to life, and fresh to second pain Is saved to-day, to-morrow to be slain. |
c. Of a cow: yielding a renewed or greatly increased supply of milk; coming into milk.
U.S.| 1884 Vermont Agric. Rep. VIII. 29 The cows will go dry for a time during the hot weather in summer and be fresh in fall. 1896 Ibid. XV. 67 This [inoculating of cream] may be done by using a ‘starter’ made from cream of the skim-milk of a fresh cow. 1971 Independent (Deerfield, Wis.) 23 Sept. 22/4 (Advt.), Fresh, springing, bred back cows and heifers. |
† 11. a. Ready, eager. Const.
to, also
to with
inf.| c 1200 Ormin 6348 Aȝȝ himm birrþ beon fressh þærto [i.e. to worship God]. c 1340 Cursor M. 18060 (Fairf.), Was nevir ern so fresh to flight. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1254 Enmys thre..Þat, to assayle us here, er ay freshe. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, i. i. 3 Euer since a fresh Admirer of what I saw there. |
† b. Ready to eat or drink; having an appetite or inclination. Also,
fresh and fasting.
Obs.| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 840 Drinking a filthy liquor, whereto they said Tobacco made them fresh. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 92 They will fresh and fasting, besprinkle themselves with the Stale of a Cow. |
12. Of the wind: Having considerable force, strong;
† formerly, springing up again (
obs.). Hence, of the ‘way’ of a ship: Speedy, steady. Also
quasi-adv. in
to blow fresh.
Cf. Fr. frais.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxi. 213 They..lyft vp theyr saylles & so had a good freshe wynde. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. xxvi. 66 Uppon a sodayne there came a fresh gale of Winde. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. x. 46 A fresh Gale is that doth..presently blow after a calme. 1659 D. Pell Impr. Sea 322 It is a long time ere a ship can bee put upon the stayes when shee has her freshest way. 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2181/4 The Wind blowing very fresh..forced into the Downs a Dutch Man of War. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. x, Not making much fresh Way as I did before. 1766 Brice in Phil. Trans. LVI. 226 The velocity of the wind on May the 6th, when it blew a fresh gale. 1805 Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1846) VII. 77 If it comes on to blow fresh I shall make the signal for Boats to repair on board. 1878 Jevons Prim. Pol. Econ. 29 The miller grinds corn when the breeze is fresh. |
13. With regard to the use of drink, in two opposite senses:
a. Sober. Now only
Sc. b. Exhilarated by drink; partially intoxicated; ‘half seas over’.
| a. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 1226 He was freche, he was nought dronke. 1628 W. Yonge Diary 113 The Lord Denbigh scarce fresh any day after the morning. 1822 Scott Pirate xxiv, ‘Our great udaller is weel eneugh when he is fresh.’ |
| b. 1812 Sporting Mag. XL. 174 On his return home, rather fresh. 1829 Marryat F. Mildmay xiii, I could get ‘fresh’..when in good company. 1849 C. Brontë Shirley iii. 31 For my notion was, they were all fresh. |
14. Sc. and
north. dial. Of the weather:
a. Open, not frosty.
b. Wet.
| 1782 Sir J. Sinclair Observ. Sc. Dial. 49 Fresh weather. Open weather. 1790 Grose Prov. Gloss. (ed. 2) s.v., How's t' weather to-day? Why fresh; i.e. it rains. 1795 Statist. Acc. Scot., Stirlings. XV. 319 note, Our winters..have been open and fresh, as it is termed. 1827 Sporting Mag. XX. 363 What is called in Durham ‘fresh weather’, alias rain. 1880 Daily News 29 Dec. 2/1 There were indications of fresh weather..The fresh became less marked. |
15. [Perhaps influenced by G.
frech saucy, impudent.] Forward, impertinent, free in behaviour.
orig. U.S.| 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer. App., Fresh, forward; as ‘don't make yourself too fresh here’; that is to say, not quite so much at home. 1887 F. Francis Saddle & Mocassin 136 What's the matter, then? Has Piggy been too ‘fresh’? 1902 H. L. Wilson Spenders xxiii. 270 And when she goes out and says that isn't right they tell her she's too fresh. 1904 ‘A. Dale’ Wanted: a Cook 199, I smiled, and was about to speak, when she rose, and in a loud voice, cried: ‘Say, you're too fresh! Where d'ye think ye are?’ 1908 G. H. Lorimer J. Spurlock ii. 26 That [remark] was pretty fresh, and my only excuse for doing it was that I couldn't think of anything fresher. 1923 Wodehouse Adv. Sally xiii. 156 I'm going to show that guy up this afternoon... He's been getting too fresh. 1928 S. Vines Humours Unreconciled iii. 41 A woman who does that sort of thing has no business to turn one down as soon as one gets a little bit fresh. 1932 H. Nicolson Public Faces viii. 233 ‘Those Britishers,’ mumbled the President eventually, having taken a large gulp of iced water, ‘are getting fresh.’ 1953 Manch. Guardian Weekly 20 Aug. 7/1 Anybody try any fancy stuff, or they got fresh,..and they let you have it. |
16. Comb., as
fresh-looking,
† fresh-new adjs. Chiefly parasynthetic, as
fresh-coloured,
fresh-complexioned,
fresh-faced,
fresh-hearted, (
fresh-heartedness),
fresh-leaved,
† fresh looked,
† fresh-suited,
fresh-tinctured adjs. Similarly
fresh-button,
fresh-skin vbs.,
fresh-dooring vbl. n.| 1771 Foote Maid of B. i. Wks. 1799 II. 213 To turn the lace, and *fresh-button the suit. |
| 1608–11 Bp. Hall Medit. & Vowes i. §24 *Fresh coloured wares, if they bee often opened, leese their brightnesse. 1848 Dickens Dombey xxxi, With a fresh-coloured face. |
| 1686 Lond. Gaz. 2156/4 A Girl of about 11 years of Age..light brown hair, and *fresh Complectioned. 1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 117 A..fresh-complexioned, quiet, fair man. |
| 1824 Miss Mitford Village Ser. ii. (1863) 250 By dint of whitening, sash-windowing and *fresh-dooring, the old ample farm⁓house has become a very genteel-looking residence. |
| 1862 H. Marryat Year in Sweden II. 354 *Fresh-faced girls sit knitting by their myrtles. |
| 1837 Hawthorne Twice-told T. (1851) II. viii. 123 But I cried the *fresh-hearted New Year. |
| 1870 Illustr. Lond. News 29 Oct. 438 The *fresh-heartedness, generosity, and heroism which seagoing has a manifest aptitude to nourish. |
| 1657 Cokaine Obstinate Lady i. i, That dost..in *fresh-leaved woods delight! |
| 1714 Lond. Gaz. No. 5249/4 One William Williams, a *fresh look'd Boy. |
| 1848 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) III. 314 The *fresh-looking masonry of yesterday. |
| 1608 Shakes. Per. iii. i. 41 This *fresh-new sea-farer. |
| 1836 E. Howard R. Reefer xxii, I had *fresh skinned myself. |
| 1638 Ford Fancies i. iii, Enter Livio, *fresh suited. |
| a 1743 Savage Lady Tyrconnel 43 *Fresh-tinctur'd like a summer-evening sky. |
B. adv. 1. In a fresh manner, freshly (see senses of the
adj.); newly;
† clearly;
† eagerly;
† gaily;
† strongly.
† Also
Law, immediately.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 190 Y-clothed was she fresh, for to devyse. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. iv, Fresche thay folo the fare. c 1470 Henry Wallace viii. 1423 With the small pype, for it most fresche will call. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxvii. 26 New of thi knop, at morrow fresche atyrit. 1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 39 A pavylyon..garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 188 The Heyfer dead, and bleeding fresh. 1622 Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) II. 336 Speak fresh that way. a 1626 Bacon Max. & Uses Com. Law (1636) 64 If fresh after the goods were stolne, the true owner maketh pursuit. 1676 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 29 There is 4 pound of [comfits] and made fresh for you of the purest sugar. 1684 T. Burnet Th. Earth i. 145 When the earth was fresh broken. 1709 tr. Poncet's Voy. æthiopia 11 Thick Beer..being bad to keep, they are forc'd to make it Fresh, almost every Hour. 1737 Whiston Josephus' Hist. i. xiv. §4 Anthony..remembering very fresh the wars he had gone through. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physic (1762) 107 Plantane root fresh digged up. 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. ii. ii, Mrs. Can. She has a charming fresh colour. Lady T. Yes, when it is fresh put on. |
2. Comb. chiefly with
pres. and pa. pples., as
fresh-armed,
fresh-baked,
fresh-bleeding,
fresh-blooming,
fresh-blowing,
fresh-blown,
fresh-boiled,
fresh-born,
fresh-breaking,
fresh-caught,
fresh-coined,
fresh-comer,
fresh-cropt,
fresh-drawn,
fresh-fallen,
fresh-forged,
fresh-killed,
fresh-made,
fresh-quilted,
fresh-rankling,
fresh-rubbed,
fresh-slaughtered,
fresh-thrashed,
fresh-thrown,
fresh-turned,
fresh-watered;
fresh-find v. trans., to find (a deer) after the scent has been lost; hence
fresh-found ppl. a.;
fresh-run a., (a fish,
esp. a salmon) that has lately run up from the sea.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 379 Ane new *fresche armit gard. |
| 1849–52 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. 844/2 *Fresh-baked brown bread. |
| 1718 Pope Iliad xv. 698 His side, *fresh⁓bleeding with the dart. |
| 1735 Somerville Chase ii. 110 In each smiling Countenance appears *Fresh-blooming Health. |
| 1671 Milton Samson 10 The breath of Heav'n *fresh-blowing, pure and sweet. |
| 1632 ― L'Allegro 22 *Fresh-blown roses washed in dew. |
| 1833 Marryat P. Simple (1863) 243 Looking as red and hot as a *fresh-boiled lobster. |
| 1708 J. Philips Cyder ii. 438 Can they refuse to usher in The *fresh-born Year with loud Acclaim. |
| 1817 Byron Manfred i. ii, And thou, *fresh breaking Day, and you, ye Mountains, Why are ye beautiful? |
| 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xx, I thought I would make you a present of a *fresh-caught specimen. |
| 1785 Crabbe Newspaper 82 The *fresh-coin'd lie. |
| 1890 Spectator 4 Oct., *Fresh-comers from England and elsewhere. |
| 1777 Potter æschylus' Supplicants 90 Why..fly you to these Gods for refuge, Holding these *fresh⁓cropt branches crown'd with wreaths? |
| 1872 Lever Ld. Kilgobbin lv, A *fresh-drawn cork. |
| 1885 Fortn. Rev. 1 Feb. 170 No doubt the thawing of *fresh-fallen snow is not pleasant. |
| 1856 R. A. Vaughan Mystics (1860) I. 171 Without loss of time, *fresh-forged anathemas are come. |
| 1780 in C. P. Collyns Chase Wild Red Deer (1862) 193 He was *fresh found lying in a rush-bed. 1799 Ibid. 209 Here they fresh found him. 1855 in J. Fortescue Rec. Stag-hunting Exmoor (1887) 189 Still persevered in hopes of fresh finding him in Haddon. Ibid. 190 We had fresh found our deer. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 18 Aug. 3/1 A clever huntsman..usually succeeds in fresh-finding his deer. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 571 After him, freshfound, the hue and cry zigzag gallops. |
| 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 238 The Gutts of their Cattle *fresh killed. |
| 1648 Herrick Hesper., Corinna's going a Maying (1869) 69 Aurora throwes her faire *Fresh-quilted colours through the aire. |
| 1763 J. Brown Poetry & Mus. vi. 100 Inward Grief, *fresh-rankling in his Soul. |
| 1896 Daily News 2 Apr. 8/5 It had a *fresh-rubbed sore under the collar. |
| 1863 Kingsley Water Bab. 83 As clean as a *fresh-run salmon. |
| 1718 Pope Iliad xvi. 198 Some tall stag, *fresh-slaughter'd in the wood. |
| 1883 Goole Weekly Times 7 Sept. 2/6 Very little *fresh-thrashed wheat has been marketed during the past week. |
| 1821 Keats Isabella xlvi, She gazed into the *fresh-thrown mould. |
| 1777 Warton First of April 29 The *fresh-turn'd soil. |
| 1535 Coverdale Isa. lviii. 11 Thou shalt be like a *freshwatred garden. 1744 Akenside Pleas. Imag. ii. 365 That..verdant lawn, Fresh-water'd from the mountains. |
C. n.1 1. [The
adj. used
absol. passing into a
n.] The fresh part or period (of a day, year, etc.).
| 1715 J. Barker Exilius II. 22 They went to divert themselves in a cool Walk, during the fresh of the Morning. a 1734 North Lives I. 192 And for that work he took the fresh of the morning. 1883 Holme Lee Loving & Serving I. xv. 288 In the fresh of the morning it is the greatest delight. 1889 Lowell Lett. (1894) II. 381 The robins..keep on pretending it is the fresh of the year. |
2. a. A rush of water or increase of the stream in a river; a freshet, flood. Also, a flood of fresh water flowing into the sea;
esp. an ebb tide, whose force is increased by heavy rains. Freq. in
pl.| 1538 Leland Itin. III. 136 Lichet Village and an Arme out of Pole Water beting with a litle fresch. c 1682 J. Collins Making Salt in Eng. 10 Sometimes there are great freshes in the River of Tyne. 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 25 We met with the Freshes off the Shore caused by the Upland Rains. 1749 F. Smith Voy. Disc. II. 31 And the Freshes or Landwaters, the Snow being mostly dissolved, very much abated. 1764 Phil. Trans. LIV. 83 The officers observed the king's boat to float suddenly, which they attributed to a great fresh. 1787 M. Cutler in Life, Jrnls. & Corr. (1888) II. 401 The high freshes..will bear a vessel of any burden..out to sea. 1848 S. W. Williams Middle Kingdom I. i. 18 The banks are not so low as to be injured or overflown to any great extent by the freshes. |
b. A sudden increase (of wind); a gust, squall.
| 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. iii, If I should be taken with a fresh of wind. 1823 Scoresby Whale Fishery 23 In the afternoon we had a fresh of wind. |
3. A pool, spring or stream of fresh water.
| 1571 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1633) 63 A small fresh or brook that falleth into the Nure. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. ii. 75 He shall drinke naught but brine, for I'le not shew him Where the quicke Freshes are. 1612 Capt. Smith Map Virginia 13 It groweth like a flagge in low muddy freshes. 1791 Cowper Iliad ii. 952 Brouzed On celery wild, from watery freshes gleaned [ἑλεόθρεπτόν τε σέλινον]. 1817 Keats Lett. Wks. 1889 III. 53, I see Carisbrooke Castle from my window, and have found several delightful wood-alleys..and quiet freshes. |
4. A freshwater stream running out into a tideway; the part of a tidal river next above the salt water; also, the land or lands adjoining this part. Freq. in
pl. Now
U.S.| 1634 Relat. Ld. Baltimore's Plantat. (1865) 12 It runs vp to the North about 20 miles before it comes to the fresh. 1658 R. Franck North. Mem. (1694) 173 Here the Salmon relinquish the Salts because by the Porposses pursued up the Freshes. 1683 W. Penn Wks. (1782) IV. 313 The Swedes [inhabit] the freshes of the river Delaware. ― Let. to North in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. I. 412 We are one hundred and thirty miles from the main sea, and forty miles up the freshes. 1686 Laws of Maryland (1765) ii, At Pile's Fresh, on both Sides of the said Fresh. 1689 Banister Virginia in Phil. Trans. XVII. 668, I have sent you what Muscles our Freshes afford. 1693 J. Clayton Acc. Virginia in Misc. Cur. (1708) III. 297 In the Freshes they more rarely are troubled with the Seasonings. 1705 Beverley Hist. Virginia ii. ii. 6 By running up into the Freshes with the Ship..during the Five or Six Weeks, that the Worm is thus above Water. Ibid. iii. 11 Mawborn Hills in the Freshes of James River. 1708 Oldmixon Brit. Empire Amer. I. 151 This part of the Delaware is call'd the Freshes. 1896 P. A. Bruce Econ. Hist. Virginia I. 500 note, His plantation..was situated in the freshes of Rappahannock River. |
▸
slang (
orig. U.S.,
esp. in African-American usage). New and exciting; fashionable; good, excellent.
| 1972 J. Densen-Gerber Drugs, Sex, Parents & You 77 She told us we were totally fresh. 1984 Washington Post 25 Nov. g3/1 Fatness is not a hook for most rappers, but the Boys say it's what keeps them ‘fresh’. 1989 T. Kidder Among Schoolchildren ii. ii. 40 Bro, that was fresh! 1993 Vibe Sept. 78/1 The freshest tricks happen right here [sc. in San Francisco], by the time they get out to New England, it's, like, old and shit. 1999 FEDS Mag. 1 iv. 10/1 It looked and smelled exactly like hash... Rich used to sell them pieces for like twenty, fifty dollars, he used to stay fresh like that, sheepskins..leather bombers. |
▪ II. fresh, n.2 Obs.—1 [? var. of frush n.1] An onset, rush.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 4730 The fresshe was so felle of the furse grekes..That [etc.]. |
▪ III. fresh, v. [f. fresh a.; cf. F. fraîchir (OF. freschir intr. in the 12th c.).] 1. trans. To make fresh.
a. To refresh, recruit, strengthen; also, to increase. Also with
up.
† b. To renew, repair (
obs.).
† c. Naut. to fresh the hawse: see
freshen v. 3 (
obs.).
| a. ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 1513 He thoughte of thilke water shene To drinke and fresshe him wel withalle. 1380 Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.) 119 Crist wolde þat our hope were freschyd in hym. a 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 291 As diuers men han done to fresshe her fame. 14.. Sir Beues (1885) 134/77 (MSS. CM.) The watur him freschyd, þat was colde. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxl. 167 They of Calays were often tymes..fresshed by stelth. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. cxlvii. iii, [He who] Fresheth the mountaines with such meedfull spring. 1635 Quarles Embl. i. xi. (1718) 45 And fresh their tired souls with strength-restoring sleep. 1835 J. P. Kennedy Horse-Shoe Robinson i. 66 Put a sprinkling of salt in a bucket o' water,..it sort of freshes the cretur up like. 1890 B. L. Gildersleeve Ess. & Stud. 190 Now stay..And fresh your life anon. 1897 Kipling Capt. Cour. 260 The fresh air will fresh Mrs. Cheyne up. 1910 Westm. Gaz. 16 Apr. 16/2 The rains have freshed the trout streams. |
| b. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 727 They make Her water thryes fresshed euery day. 1513 Churchw. Acc., St. Mary hill, London (Nichols 1797) 107 For freshynge the canopy at the high awter. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. i. Tropheis 325 With fresh assaults freshing their fury so. 1635 Quarles Embl. iii. (1857) 268 Groans fresh'd with vows and vows made salt with tears. |
| c. 1692 Capt. Smith's Seaman's Gram. i. xvi. 78 Fresh the Hawse. |
2. intr. † Of the wind: To become fresh, to begin to blow fresh. Also with
up.
Occas. of the sea: To become lively, roughen.
| 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. 107 The 16. the winde freshed, and we passed by Mount Carmel. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 282 The wind freshing westwardly, the English bore in..hard among them. a 1691 J. Flavel Sea-Deliver. (1754) 157 The wind freshed up, and began to blow a brisk gale. 1775 E. Wild Jrnl. in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. Ser. ii. II. 267 The wind freshing we got clear after several tacks. 1892 [see freshing ppl. a. below]. |
Hence
ˈfreshing vbl. n., renewal, refreshment; (of a wound) recrudescence;
ˈfreshing ppl. a.| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxxxii. 488 Thou nedyste not fere of any fresshynge nor of more fourtherynge for me. 1591 Spenser Daphn. 26, I walkt abroad to breath the freshing ayre. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 7 Abrahams bosome, wherein the Saints receiue freshing. 1613–16 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv, Her skill in herbs might helpe remove The freshing of a wound which he had got. 1892 Daily News 30 Nov. 3/1 He can paint the freshing sea when the tide runs in. |