Fric"tion (?), n. [L. frictio, fr. fricare, frictum,to rub: cf. F.
friction. See Fray to rub, arid cf. Dentifrice.] 1. The act of rubbing
the surface of one body against that of another; attrition; in hygiene,
the act of rubbing the body with the hand, with flannel, or with a
brush etc., to excite the skin to healthy action.
2. (Mech.) The resistance which a body meets with from the surface on
which it moves. It may be resistance to sliding motion, or to rolling
motion.
3. A clashing between two persons or parties in opinions or work; a
disagreement tending to prevent or retard progress.
Angle of friction (Mech.), the angle which a plane onwhich a body is
lying makes with a horizontal plane,when the hody is just ready to
slide dewn the plane. This angle varies for different bodies, and for
planes of different materials. -- Anti-friction wheels (Mach.), wheels
turning freely on small pivots, and sustaining, at the angle formed by
their circumferences, the pivot or journal of a revolving shaft, to
relieve it of friction; -- called also friction wheels. -- Friction
balls, or Friction rollers, balls or rollers placed so as to receive
the pressure or weight of bodies in motion, and relieve friction, as in
the hub of a bicycle wheel. -- Friction brake (Mach.), a form of
dynamometer for measuring the power a motor exerts. A clamp around the
revolving shaft or fly wheel of the motor resists the motion by its
friction, the work thus absorbed being ascertained by observing the
force required to keep the clamp from revolving with the shaft; a Prony
brake. -- Friction chocks, brakes attached to the common standing
garrison carriages of guns, so as to raise the trucks or wheels off the
platform when the gun begins to recoil, and prevent its running back.
Earrow. -- Friction clutch, Friction coupling, an engaging and
disengaging gear for revolving shafts, pulleys, etc., acting by
friction; esp.: (a) A device in which a piece on one shaft or pulley is
so forcibly pressed against a piece on another shaft that the two will
revolve together; as, in the illustration, the cone a on one shaft,
when thrust forcibly into the corresponding hollow cone b on the other
shaft, compels the shafts to rotate together, by the hold the friction
of the conical surfaces gives. (b) A toothed clutch, one member of
which, instead of being made fast on its shaft, is held by friction and
can turn, by slipping, under excessive strain or in starting. --
Friction drop hammer, one in which the hammer is raised for striking by
the friction of revolving rollers which nip the hammer rod. -- Friction
gear. See Frictional gearing, under Frictional. -- Friction machine, an
electrical machine, generating electricity by friction. -- Friction
meter, an instrument for measuring friction, as in testing lubricants.
-- Friction powder, Friction composition, a composition of chlorate of
potassium, antimony, sulphide, etc, which readily ignites by friction.
-- Friction primer, Friction tube, a tube used for firing cannon by
means of the friction of a roughened wire in the friction powder or
composition with which the tube is filled. -- Friction wheel (Mach.),
one of the wheels in frictional gearing. See under Frictional.
Fric"tion*al (?), a. Relating to friction; moved by friction; produced
by friction; as, frictional electricity.
Frictional gearing, wheels which transmit motion by surface friction
instead of teeth. The faces are sometimes made more or less V-shaped to
increase or decrease friction, as required.
Fric"tion*less, a. Having no friction.
Fri"day (?), n. [AS. frigedÊg, fr. Frigu, the gooddes of marriage;
friqu love + dÊg day; cf. Icel. Frigg name of a goddess, the wife of
Odin or Wodan, OHG. Fratag, Icel. Frjdagr. AS. frigu is prob. from the
root of E. friend, free. See Free, and Day.] The sixth day of the week,
following Thursday and preceding Saturday.
Fridge (?), v. t. [AS. frician to dance, from free bold. Cf. Freak, n.]
To rub; to fray. [Obs.] Sterne.
{ Frid"stol` (frd"stl`), Frith`stool" (frth"stl`) }, n. [AS. fristl.
See Fred, and Stool.] A seat in churches near the altar, to which
offenders formerly fled for sanctuary. [Written variously fridstool,
freedstool, etc.] [Obs.]
Fried (frd), imp. & p. p. of Fry.
Friend (frnd), n. [OR. frend, freond, AS. freÛnd, prop. p. pr. of
freÛn, freÛgan, to love; akin to D. vriend friend, OS. friund friend,
friohan to love, OHG. friunt friend, G. freund, Icel. frÊndi kinsman,
Sw. fr‰nde. Goth. frijnds friend, frijn to love. √83. See Free,
and cf. Fiend.] 1. One who entertains for another such sentiments of
esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a
wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant.
Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend.
Dryden.
A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Prov. xviii. 24.
2. One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of
the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be
assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address.
Friend, how camest thou in hither?
Matt. xxii. 12.
3. One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project,
and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to
poetry, to an institution.
4. One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and
an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by
opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are
popularly called Quakers.
America was first visited by Friends in 1656.
T. Chase.