vbl. sb. [f. FRAY v.2]
1. Of a deer: The action of the vb. FRAY. Also that which is rubbed off in fraying; ‘peel.’
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 243. Then he rubbeth of that pyll, and that is called fraying of his heade.
1637. B. Jonson, The Sad Shepherd, I. ii.
| For by his Slot, his Entries, and his Port, | |
| His Frayings, Fewmets, he doth promise Sport. |
1825. Scott, Betrothed, xvii. There may be here those who will pretend to track mischief from light words, as I would find a buck from his frayings.
b. Comb.: fraying-post, † -stock, the tree or other object against which a deer frays.
1674. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1677), 68. All Stags as they are burnish’d, beat their Heads dry against some Tree or other, which is called their *Fraying-post.
1884. Jefferies, Red Deer, 112–3. Next season you may see such a fir, which was used as a fraying post, dead and dry, the bark having been completely stripped from it.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 69. When the huntsman hath founde his *frayingstocke, he must marke the heyght where the ende of his croches or paulme hath reached, and where the braunches shall be broken or brused.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Nauy Land Ships, Wks. I. 93/1. For what Necromanticke spells, are Rut, Vault, Slot, Pores, and Entryes, Abatures, and Foyles, Frayenstockes, Frith and Fell.
2. Ravellings.
1855. Dickens, Dorrit, I. xxix. The little seamstress on her knee picking threads and fraying of her work from the carpet.
