Freke

Alternative forms

• freak

Origin

From Middle English freke ("a bold man, warrior, man, creature"), from Old English freca ("a bold man, warrior, hero"), from Proto-Germanic *frekô ("an active or eagre man, warrior, wolf"), from Proto-Germanic *frekaz ("active, bold, desirous, greedy"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pereg- ("to shrug, be quick, twitch, splash, blast"). Akin with Old Norse freki ("greedy or avaricious one, a wolf"), Old High German freh ("eager"), Old English frēcne ("dangerous, daring, courageous, bold").

Full definition of freke

Noun

1. A brave man, a warrior, a man-at-armsÞen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght. — Destruction of Troy, 1540There was never a freke one foot would flee, but still in stour did stand,” — Henry Morley, A Bundle of Ballads'', 1891
2. A man, a human being, a personþes fifti, alle ferliche freken. — St. Katherine of Alexandria, 1225Go not forthe as a dombe freke. — Book of Courtesy, 1475
3. A creature such as a giant, demon, angelBringing my love, for Time’s a freke of jealous strain; — Richard F. Burton, The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night, 1885