4. pl. (Mining) The worn sides of river banks, where ores, or stones
containing them, accumulate by being washed down from the hills, and
thus indicate to the miners the locality of the veins.
Fret, v. t. [OE. fretten to adorn, AS. frÊtwan, frÊtwian; akin to OS.
fratahn, cf. Goth. us-fratwjan to make wise, also AS. frÊtwe ornaments,
OS. fratah adornment.] To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to
diversify.
Whose skirt with gold was fretted all about.
Spenser.
Yon gray lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day.
Shak.
Fret, n. 1. Ornamental work in relief, as carving or embossing. See
Fretwork.
2. (Arch.) An ornament consisting of small fillets or slats
intersecting each other or bent at right angles, as in classical
designs, or at oblique angles, as often in Oriental art.
His lady's cabinet is a adorned on the fret, ceiling, and
chimney-piece with . . . carving.
Evelyn.
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3. The reticulated headdress or net, made of gold or silver wire, in
which ladies in the Middle Ages confined their hair.
A fret of gold she had next her hair.
Chaucer.
Fret saw, a saw with a long, narrow blade, used in cutting frets,
scrolls, etc.; a scroll saw; a keyhole saw; a compass saw.
Fret (?), n. [F. frette a saltire, also a hoop, ferrule, prob. a dim.
of L. ferrum iron. For sense 2, cf. also E. fret to rub.] 1. (Her.) A
saltire interlaced with a mascle.
2. (Mus.) A short piece of wire, or other material fixed across the
finger board of a guitar or a similar instrument, to indicate where the
finger is to be placed.
Fret, v. t. To furnish with frets, as an instrument of music.
Fret"ful (?), a. [See 2d Fret.] Disposed to fret; ill-humored; peevish;
angry; in a state of vexation; as, a fretful temper. -- Fret"ful*ly,
adv. -- Fret"ful*ness, n.
Syn. -- Peevish; ill-humored; ill-natured; irritable; waspish;
captious; petulant; splenetic; spleeny; passionate; angry. - - Fretful,
Peevish, Cross. These words all indicate an unamiable working and
expression of temper. Peevish marks more especially the inward spirit:
a peevish man is always ready to find fault. Fretful points rather to
the outward act, and marks a complaining impatience: sickly children
are apt to be fretful. Crossness is peevishness mingled with vexation
or anger.
Frett (?), n. [See 2d Fret.] (Mining) The worn side of the bank of a
river. See 4th Fret, n., 4.
Frett, n. [See Frit.] A vitreous compound, used by potters in glazing,
consisting of lime, silica, borax, lead, and soda.