▪ I. froe, frow Now chiefly U.S.
(frəʊ)
Also 6–7 frower, 7 frowe, frau, 8 fro.
[The synonymous fromward suggests that the earliest form frower represents a subst. use of froward a. in the lit. sense ‘turned away’, the reference being to the position of the handle.]
1. A wedge-shaped tool used for cleaving and riving staves, shingles, etc. It has a handle in the plane of the blade, set at right angles to the back.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. xvii. (1878) 36 A frower of iron, for cleauing of lath. 1616 J. Lane Cont. Sqr.'s T. ix. 63 In⁓castinge stooles, ropes, froes, chaines..and all trassh whatsoever. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia iv. Wks. (Arb.) 608 Tooles [required]..5 frowes to cleaue pale. 1668 Worlidge Dict. Rust., A Frower, an Edge-tool used in cleaving Lath. 1685 R. Burton Eng. Emp. Amer. x. 149 A set of Wedges and Fraus..to every family. 1775 Romans Hist. Florida 182 A river or splitter, who rives them [trees] with the fro. 1851 S. Judd Margaret xvi. (1871) 137 With froe in one hand and mallet in the other. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech. I. 918 Frow (Coopering). |
† 2. (See quot.; perh. a distinct word.) Obs.
| 1594 Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 20 Those warming pinnes..which of some are called Froes, and being put into their cases, and those cases wrapped in linnen bagges, doe serve to heate beddes. |
▪ II. froe
obs. form of frow, Dutchwoman.