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Friar

1. A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz: (a) minors, gray friars, or franciscans. (b) Augustines. (c) Dominicans or black friars. (d) white friars or Carmelites. See these names in the vocabulary.

2. A white or pale patch on a printed page.

3. (Science: zoology) An American fish; the silversides.

(Science: medicine) friar bird, a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin.

(Science: botany) friars cap, the European white or sharpnosed skate (raia alba); called also Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.

Origin: or. Frere, f. Frere brother, friar, fr. L. Frater brother. See brother.