frettern.1
/ˈfrɛtə/ One who or that which frets.
1. †(a) A devourer. Obsolete. (b) That which gnaws, eats away, or corrodes. Obsolete except in vine-fretter: see quot. 1608.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > loss of material > eating away > that which
fretter?1523
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxii Terre..is a frettar and no heylar without it be medled with some of these [sc. oil, butter, or grease].
1568–9 Act 11 Eliz. in R. Bolton Statutes Ireland (1621) 298 The fretter of our lives and substance.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 105 Vine-fretters, which are a kind of Catterpillers, or little hayrie wormes with many feete, that eate Vines when they begin to shoote.
1610 G. Markham Maister-peece ii. cxxx. 432 Other Farriers vse the powder of Risagallo, or Risagre, but it is a great deale too strong a fretter.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Tavelliere, the little worme called a Wood-fretter.
1772 Ann. Reg. 1771 Misc. Ess. 172/2 Reaumur has proved that vine fretters do not want an union of sexes for the multiplication of their kind.
1895 Dublin Rev. Oct. 444 He considered the generation of vine fretters from a new point of view.
2.
a. One who or something which irritates or chafes.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [noun] > cause of annoyance or vexation > one who or that which annoys
noyera1382
annoyancec1405
offender?a1425
fretter?1504
traik1513
vexer1530
annoying1566
annoyer1577
plagueship1628
annoyancer1632
disobliger1648
nuisance1661
galler1674
bug1785
torment1785
botheration1801
nark1846
scunner1865
bother1866
botherer1869
crucifier1870
dinlo1873
bastard1919
skelf1927
dick1966
wazzock1976
knob jockey1989
the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > discontent or dissatisfaction > state of complaining > [noun] > one who complains
grucchildc1230
grutchera1250
groinera1382
musera1382
plainerc1400
plaintiff?a1439
fretter?1504
complainant1525
complainer1526
repiner1551
grudger1552
moaner1628
grumbler1633
querulist1647
maunderer1653
growler1753
grumbletonian1773
smellfungus1807
crib-biter1809
expostulatora1834
squinny1849
groaner1876
grouser1885
squealer1889
gruntler1893
grump1900
grouch1901
screamer1902
Moaning Minnie1934
narker1937
binder1944
?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. ee.ii So that fraylte to hym be no freter.
1639 J. Fletcher et al. Bloody Brother ii. ii. sig. D1 Give me some drink, this fire's a plaguy fretter.
1790 J. Wolcot Advice to Future Laureat in Wks. (1812) II. 341 Thou plague of Post Office, the teaser, fretter.
b. One who gives way to fretting or ill-temper.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [noun] > peevish person
fretcharda1640
fretter1649
petulant1682
Gummidge1873
nippy sweetie1985
1649 T. Fuller Just Mans Funeral 19 The first are the fretters.
a1732 T. Boston Serm. (1850) 120 This doctrine reproves murmurers and fretters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
frettern.2
/ˈfrɛtə/ A branch that rubs.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > bough or branch > in poor condition or that damages others
witherling1528
fretter1618
1618 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden xi. 40 Fretters are, When..two, or mo parts of the tree, or of diuers trees, as armes, boughes..grow so neere and close together, that one of them by rubbing, doth wound one another.
1664 J. Evelyn Sylva (1776) 472 This is of great importance and so is the sedulously taking away of Suckers, Water-boughs, Fretters, etc.
1670 J. Smith England's Improvem. Reviv'd 72.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online January 2018).
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n.1?1504
n.21618