[L. frāter brother.]
† 1. A friar. Obs.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy. Turkie, II. xi. 46. The sayd Frater hadde brought with him a great bottle, which the Grecians cal Ocalips ful of good muscadel with a quantitie of Plaisantin cheese, certain sauceges and other good and acceptable refreshments, to make vs mery with.
1639. Ld. G. Digby, Lett. Relig. (1651), 78–9. For all we know of their Arguments our Libraries are just as well furnished with them as you may imagine some good Fraters closet in Spain, that hath the Inquisitor for his neighbour, is with the works of Calvin, or Luther.
† 2. Cant. (See quots.) Obs.
1561. Awdelay, Frat. Vacab., 4. A Frater goeth wyth a like Lisence to beg for some Spittlehouse or Hospital. They pray is commonly vpon poore women as they go and come to the Markets.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II. i.
| And these, what Name or Title e’er they bear, | |
| Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapperdudgeon, | |
| Frater, or Abram-man. |
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 77. Fraters are such, who with a Counterfeit Patent, beg for some Hospital or Spittle-house.
3. A brother, comrade. Also attrib.
1794. Burns, Bard’s Epitaph, ii.
| Is there a bard of rustic song, | |
| Who, noteless, steals the crowds among, | |
| O, pass not by! | |
| But, with a frater-feeling strong, | |
| Here, heave a sigh. |
18[?]. Blackie, Death Columba, 37.
| I am come to bless my people, | |
| Faithful fraters, ere I die. |
