Forms: 4–5 frayel, fraell(e, fraiel, 4–6 frayle, 5–6 frale, 6 fraile, 7 freal, 6– frail. [a. OF. frayel, of unknown origin.]

1

  1.  A kind of basket made of rushes, used for packing figs, raisins, etc.; the quantity of raisins, etc. (30 to 75 lbs.) contained in this.

2

13[?].  Coer de L., 1549.

        Fyggys, raysyns, in frayel,
And notes may serve us fol wel.

3

1382.  Wyclif, Jer. xxiv. 2. Oe fraiel hadde good figus.

4

c. 1420.  Pallad. on Husb., XI. 493.

        A multitude of reysouns puld they take,
And into russhy frayels rare hem gete.

5

1483.  Cath. Angl., 141/1. A frale [v.r. fraelle] of fygis, palata.

6

1562.  Turner, Herbal, II. 144 b. A kind of … sea rishe (whereof the frayles are made that fyges and rasines are carried hether in out of Spayne).

7

c. 1618.  Fletcher, Q. Corinth, II. iv.

        Three frailes of spratts carried from mart to mart
Are as much meat as these, to more use travell’d.

8

1791.  Cowper, Iliad, XVIII. 719.

                    There, youths and maidens blithe
In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit.

9

1836.  Fraser’s Mag., XIV. Sept., 286.

                            Sixteen frails
Of Zante currants! Ah, me! sixteen frails.

10

1880.  W. Whiteley, Diary & Alman., 82. Frail of figs = 32 to 56 lbs.

11

  2.  ‘A rush for weaving baskets’ (Johnson, 1755).

12

  3.  Comb., as frail-bent, -rush.

13

1548.  Turner, Names of Herbes (E.D.S.), 76. It [Spartum herba] may be called in english Frailbente.

14

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, IV. lii. 511. The frayle Rushe or panier Rushe, bycause they use to make figge frayles and paniers therwithall.

15