▪ I. † frike, a. Obs.
[a. OF. frique (13th c.), regarded by some scholars as the earlier form of frisque (see frisk a.); it is perh. a. Teut. *freko- freck a. In ME. the adjs. frike and freck seem to have been somewhat confused.]
1. Lusty, strong, vigorous.
| 13.. Fest. Church in Holy Rood 221 The egle is frikest fowle in flye. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2204 My floures bene fallen, & my frike age. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 104 Barons, Admyralls, and Dukes frike. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy) 230 When thou art fryke and in thy flowres, Thou werest purpure, perreye, ore palle. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 179/1 Fryke, or craske, or yn grete helthe, crassus. c 1475 Partenay 2803 The body welle made, frike in ioly plite. |
2. Joyful.
| c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 23 Loue is hetter þan þe cole To hem þat of it is fayn & frike [rime lijke]. |
Hence † ˈfrickly adv., † ˈfrikeness.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 6120 Lest þi friknes so furse..Brynge þe to bale. Ibid. 9880 All ffrickly his fos fled at the last. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 179/1 Frykenesse, crassitudo. |
▪ II. † frike, v. Obs. rare.
[OE. fr{iacu}cian (only once).]
intr. To dance, move briskly.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xi. 17 We sungun eow & ᵹe ne fricudun [c 1175 Hatton Gosp. fricodon]. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 211 Al hit is idel þat me at pleȝe bihalt..þih and shonkes and fet oppieð..armes and hondes frikieð. |