Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 4 frekne, 5 frakyn(e, 5–6 frakene, 6 fracin, frackne, freken, -in, 7 frechon. [a. ON. freknur pl. (Sw. fräkne, Da. fregne).] A freckle.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1311.
| A fewe freknes in his face y-spreynd, | |
| Betwixe yolwe and somdel blak y-meynd. |
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 680/3. Hec lenticula, a frakyn.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, IV. vi. (1634), 200. Frekens … may be taken away by often anoynting them with the oyle of Tartar.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. VI. iii. (1651), 562. Wrinkles, pimples, redde streeks, frechons, hairs, warts, [etc.].
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Freckens freckles.
Hence Freckened ppl. a., marked with freckles.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1081.
| His frount and his forhevede alle was it over, | |
| As þe felle of a froske, and fraknede it semede. |
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 176/1. Fraknyd, idem quod Frakny.
1877. in N. W. Linc. Gloss.
