friar
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)friars
- a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on almsSynonyms: mendicantType of religiousKinds Augustinian, Franciscan, Carmelite, Dominican
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OR. frere, F. frère brother, friar, fr. L. frater brother. See Brother.
1. Roman Catholic Church A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz: (a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans. (b) Augustines. (c) Dominicans or Black Friars. (d) White Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
2. Printing A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3. Zoology An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird Zoology, an Australian bird (Tropidorhynchus corniculatus), having the head destitute of feathers; — called also coldong, leatherhead, pimlico; poor soldier, and four-o'clock. The name is also applied to several other species of the same genus. — Friar's balsam Medicine, a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin. William Thos., and Cox, George William Brande — Friar's cap Botany, the monkshood. — Friar's cowl Botany, an arumlike plant (Arisarum vulgare) with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl. — Friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp. John Milton — Friar skate Zoology, the European white or sharpnosed skate (Raia alba); — called also Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54