freck
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freck¹
- /fɹɛk/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛk
Where it comes from
The noun is a clipping of freckle (noun). Freckle is derived from frecken (“(obsolete except UK, dialectal) freckle”)), from Late Middle English fracle, frekel, frekle (“freckle; pimple; fleck of colour in a stone”), a variant of frakne, freken (“freckle; other skin blemish”) from Old Norse freknur pl, an s-less variant of Proto-Germanic *sprekalą (“freckle”), from Proto-Indo-European *sp(h)er(e)g-, *(s)pregʰ- (“to sprinkle, strew”).
The verb is a clipping of freckle (noun) or freckle (verb).
noun frecks
- Synonym of freckle (“a small brownish or reddish pigmentation spot on the surface of the skin; any small spot which has a different colour from its background”). The eggs [of the pine grosbeak] vary much, both in size and colouring; […] ground-colour pale blue-green, blotched and streaked with light purple and burnt umber spots and frecks; […]
verb frecks · frecking · frecked · freak
- To cover (someone or something) with small marks or spots; to dapple, to freckle, to speckle. There ſhee a bloodleſſe Statue ſate, all freckt; / Her ſpotted minde the Marble did infect.
- To scatter objects over (something). The eve put on her sweetest shroud, / The summer-dress she's often in, / Freck'd with white and purple cloud, / Dappled like a leopard's skin; […]
freck²
- /fɹɛk/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛk
Where it comes from
From Middle English frecch, frecche (“bold, brave; fierce; greedy, voracious”), frek (“bold, brave; fierce; eager, zealous; fast, quick; greedy (?)”), from Old English frec, fræc (“audacious, bold; greedy”) from Proto-West Germanic *frek (“greedy”), from Proto-Germanic *frekaz (“greedy”), from Proto-Indo-European *preg- (“to covet; to yearn”).
adjective more freck · most freck · frack
- Not showing proper respect; impertinent, impudent.
- Bold, brave, courageous. "There was none to challenge him but old Keltie, and the carrier Auchtermuchty," replied Randal; "unlikely men to slay one of the frackest youths in Scotland of his years, and who was sure to have friends and partakers at no great distance."
- Physically active and healthy; robust, vigorous. [H]e's a freck aul' body at his age.
- Often followed by for or to: eager to do something; also, quick to act when an opportunity arises; prompt. ["][T]his brother of thine, who is so frack, as the fellow called him, bears he the same wonderful likeness to thee as formerly?" / "If your Grace means in temper, you know whether I am so frack as the serving-man spoke him." / "Nay, thou art prompt enough in all reasonable conscience," replied the
