Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 3 freitore, 4 freitur, -our, 4–5 freytour, frature, 4–6 frai-, fraytour, (5 freytowre, 6 fratour), 5–7 frayter, (5–6 frai-, fraytre, 6 fratre, fratter, froyter), 5– frater. [a. OF. fraitur, short for refreitor, repr. med.L. refectōrium REFECTORY.] The eating or refreshment room of a monastery; a refectory.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 286/282. Seint Domenic axede of þe freitore: ȝwat is þi dede þere?
c. 1325. Poem Times Edw. II., 171, in Pol. Songs (Camden), 331. He shal into the freitur and ben i-mad ful glad.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 995. & after in to þe fraytre þo come he.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, IV. xxxii. (1869), 193. Þer was þer inne cloystre and dortour chirche chapitre and freytour.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 241/2. There cam two yong men of yye same habite & forme whiche entrid in to ye refectory or fraitour.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 34. The church was shott in from monday unto thursday, and the servys and masse sayd and songe in the fratter.
1556. Withals, Dict., 64. A frailer or place to eate meate in, refectorium.
1883. Athenæum, 24 Feb., 255/1. But here at Westminster the plan of the claustral buildings is absolutely complete, and only the frater and the chapel of the infirmary have been formally dismantled.
b. attrib. and Comb., as frater-wall; frater-house = FRATRY 1.
1546. in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford, 183. To John Edwards, carpenter, for takyng downe of the roof of ye fraterhowse of Abynton, in parte of his bargen … xxs.
1546. Bale, Eng. Votaries, I. (1550) 69 b. A roode there was vpon the frayter wall in the monastery where the counsel was holden.
1844. F. A. Paley, Church Restorers, 23. Not less than one hundred brethren dined at once in this noble frater-house.
Hence † Fraterer, the monk who has charge of the refectory. Also in fem. form and sense.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, IV. xlv. (1869), 197. She that hath þe gorgiere is ladi and freytoureere [F. refecturiere].
1483. Cath. Angl., 141/2. Frayturer, refectorarius.
