fray

Meaning

Verb

1. (also, figuratively, transitive) To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
2. (also, figuratively, specifically, transitive) To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
3. (transitive) To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
5. (intransitive) To become unravelled or worn; to unravel.
6. (intransitive) To rub.
7. (intransitive, specifically) To rub.
8. (figuratively, intransitive) Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out.

Noun

A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred.

Noun

1. (archaic, countable, obsolete) A noisy commotion, especially resulting from fighting; a brawl, a fight; also, a loud quarrel.
2. (archaic, countable, figuratively, obsolete) A heated argument; a war of words.
3. (archaic, obsolete, uncountable) Conflict, disagreement.
4. (archaic, countable, obsolete) An assault or attack.
5. (archaic, countable, obsolete) A loud noise; a cacophony, a din.
6. (archaic, obsolete, uncountable) Fright, terror; (countable) an instance of this.

Synonyms

fight

scuffle

fret

brawl

rub

combat

unravel

chafe

frazzle

struggle

row

contention

quarrel

scratch

affray

wear

wear out

squabble

tussle

battle

clash

melee

altercation

argument

set-to

disturbance

conflict

broil

wear away

strife

skirmish

tatter

scrimmage

contest

fracas

ruffle

abrade

riot

engagement

encounter

bustle

duel

donnybrook

bushwhacking

dogfight

brush

mayhem

disputation

joust

jangle

Translations

bagarre

zuffa

Rauferei

effilocher

Schlägerei

kavga

riña

συμπλοκή

ausfransen

effiler

lotta

combat

rixe

mischia

Kampf

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fɹeɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: fraien

Cognate with French: frayer

Cognate with French: effrayer

Inherited from Middle English: frai

Cognate with French: effroi

In summary

The verb is derived from Late Middle English fraien (“to beat so as to cause bruising, to bruise; to crush; to rub; to wear, wear off”), borrowed from Old French fraier, freier, freiier (modern French frayer (“to clear, open up (a path, etc.); (figuratively) to find one’s way through (something); (obsolete) to rub”)), from Latin fricāre, the present active infinitive of fricō (“to chafe; to rub”), an intensive form of friō (“to break into pieces, crumble; to rub”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreyH- (“to cut”). Sense 1.2 (“to force or make (a path, way, etc.) through”) is derived from modern French frayer: see above.
The noun is derived from the verb.