v. Obs. Also 6 -fret, 7 -freat; erron. 6 -freit, 6–7 -freight. [ad. L. transfretāre, f. TRANS- + fretum a strait, channel; cf. OF. transfreter (a. 1200 in Godef.).]
1. intr. To pass over a strait or narrow sea.
c. 1540. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden), I. 85. The Emperoure Severus … desierus to procure the destruction of Albinus, transfreted into Fraunce.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. IV., 24. Declaryng also that … he wold transfret and passe the sea himselfe.
1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., vi. D j. Treasure of greater gaine Then all the chaffer that transfretes from Portugal or Spaine.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIV. xci. Hence for Ireland at the least I must transfreat.
1653. Waterhouse, Apol. Learn., 52. The Saxon Merchants … Arm and Transfreight, and about the year six hundred eighty nine obtain the Rule over us.
2. trans. a. To convey across a strait or sea. b. To cross (a strait or sea).
1594. ? Greene, Selimus, Wks. (Grosart), XIV. 266. T’await th’ arriuall of some ship That might transfreit vs safely vnto Rhodes.
1595. Locrine, I. i. 108. We … transfretting the Illirian sea, Arriued on the coasts of Aquitane.
1611. Brathwait, Gold. Fleece, Sonn., iv. G j b. With joyfull mirth … To haue transfreted such a Sea of woes.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxxiii. 151. Have we not … travelled and toyled enough, in having transfreted and past over the Hircanian sea?
