adj. (university).—1. Said of an undergraduate in his first term.
1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.
1866. TREVELYAN, Horace at Athens. When you and I were FRESH.
2. (common).—Slightly intoxicated; elevated. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SCREWED. (Scots’ = sober.)
1829. MARRYAT, Frank Mildmay, ch. xiii. Drinking was not among my vices. I could get FRESH, as we call it, when in good company and excited by wit and mirth; but I never went to the length of being drunk.
3. (old English and modern American).—Inexperienced, but conceited and presumptuous; hence, forward, impudent.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, King John, iii. 4. How green you are and FRESH in this old world.
1887. F. FRANCIS, Jun., Saddle and Mocassin, viii. 136. “Has Peggy been too ‘FRESH’?” Her sunburnt cheeks flushed redly, and a gleam of temper flashed in her eyes.
4. (common).—Fasting; opposed to eating or drinking.
FRESH AS PAINT, AS A ROSE, AS A DAISY, AS A NEW-BORN TURD, etc., phr. (common).—Full of health, strength, and activity; FIT (q.v.).
1864. YATES, Broken to Harness, ch. xix. This is his third day’s rest, and the cob will be about as FRESH AS PAINT when I get across him again.
1880. Punch’s Almanack, p. 12.
FRESH ON THE GRAFT, adj. phr. (common).—New to the work. Cf., FRESH BIT.
