freke

Etymology

From Middle English freke (“a bold man, warrior, man, creature”), from Old English freca (“a bold man, warrior, hero”), from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], from Proto-Germanic *frekô (“an active or eagre man, warrior, wolf”), from *frekaz (“active, bold, desirous, greedy”), from Proto-Indo-European *preg- (“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”).

noun

  1. A brave man, a warrior, a man-at-arms.“Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght.”
  2. A man; a human being; a person.“þes fifti, alle ferliche freken.”
  3. A creature such as a giant, demon, angel.“Bringing my love, for Time’s a freke of jealous strain; […]”