Arch. Forms: 5 fres, 6 frise, fryse, 6–7 frese, 6–9 frize, 7 freese, 7–8 freeze, 8 freze, 7– frieze. [a. Fr. frise fem., which (with Sp. friso masc.) is prob. related in some way to the synonymous It. fregio masc., also ‘border, fringe, ornament’:—L. Phrygium (sc. opus) a Phrygian work (cf. Phrygiæ vestes embroidered garments).]
1. That member in the entablature of an order which comes between the architrave and cornice. Also in extended sense (see quot. 1850).
1563. Shute, Archit., D iv b. The Architraue, frise, & Cornish…. Vnto the height of Zophorus, which we cal ye frese.
1644. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 110. The room … is tapestried with crimson damask …; the frieze above rarely painted.
1656. Davenant, Siege of Rhodes, I. Dram. Wks. 1873, III. 259. In the middle of the freese was a compartiment, wherein was written Rhodes.
1726. Leoni, Designs, Pref. 2/1. Makes the projection of the Architrave … hide the Freze.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 57, note. The ceiling and a deep frieze adorned in stucco with sea-monsters, and great fishes swimming.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Descr. Author’s Bed Chamb., 17. With beer and milk arrears, the frieze [of a mantel-piece] was scored.
1812–6. J. Smith, The Panorama of Science and Art, I. 158. Being very full of minute tracery, and much attempt at stiffly ornamented friezes.
1850. Parker, Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5), 221. Any horizontal broad band which is occupied by sculpture may be correctly termed a frieze (and is so by architectural writers), whether it form part of an entablature or be placed in any other position.
1852. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Madonna (1857), 148. The scene is a chamber richly decorated; a frieze of angelic boys ornaments the alcove; St. Anna lies on a couch.
b. A band of painted or sculptured decoration.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, I. vi. They entered the ball-room … the walls of looking-glass, enclosing friezes of festive sculpture.
1851. Layard, Pop. Acc. Discov. Nineveh, xiii. 344. Sun-dried bricks covered by a thin coat of plaster, on which were painted figures and ornamental friezes.
2. a. In a column (also frieze of the capital) = HYPOTRACHELIUM. b. In a cannon: The encircling ring immediately behind the cornice-ring (see CORNICE 4).
1569–91. Spenser, Vis. Bellay, iv. The chapters Alablaster, the fryses christall.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 32. The Freese, Gul or Throat.
1692. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., II. vi. 94. C is the Freeze [of a cannon].
1711. Pope, Temp. Fame, 142. The freezes gold, and gold the capitals.
3. attrib. and Comb., as frieze-work. Also † frieze-orders pl., those in which a frieze is always a part of the entablature; frieze-panel, (a) one of the uppermost panels of a six-panelled door; (b) the lower part of a gun-port (Adm. Smyth); frieze-rail, the rail below the frieze-panels.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 31. The Mason must in the making any of the *Freese orders, divide the height of the Column with its Ornament into nineteen parts.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., I. 106. The *Friese Pannel above the *Friese Rail.
1859. Gwilt, Encycl. Arch. (ed. 4), 568. Indoors, the upper rails are called top rails; the next in descending, frize rails.… The panels are also named from their situations on the door; thus CC, being the uppermost, are called frize panels.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), V. 1773. Nothing is to be seen without a kind of *freeze-work, or a representation of some animal upon it; but the most common one is that of the human face.
Hence Friezed ppl. a. [-ED2], furnished with a frieze; Friezeless a., having no frieze.
1819. Wiffen, Aonian Hours (1820), 76.
| Night’s shrieking bird | |
| Flaps the friezed window with her wing which falls | |
| Hollowly on the ear. |
1852. Willis, Summer Cruise in Medit., xl. 244. A dark Mihrab surrounded by candles of incredible proportions, looking like the marble columns of some friezeless portico.
