Obs. Also 7 frete. [ad. L. fretum. (Perh. confused with FRET sb.4).] A strait.
1576. Sir H. Gilbert, Disc. Passage to Cataia, i. An Islande [America] enuironed round about with the Sea, hauing on the southside of it, the frete, or strayte of Magellan.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 345. This Sea coast of Britaine is seperated from the Continent of Europe by a frete or streight, where, as some suppose the Seas brake in and made way betweene the lands.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., VII. xiii. 364. In this Euripe or fret of Negropont, and upon the occasion mentioned, Aristotle drowned himselfe, as many affirme.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 506. A small fret (known by the peculiar name of Menai) sundereth it from the Welch continent.
