Fri"ar (?), n. [OR. frere, F. frere brother, friar, fr. L. frater brother. See Brother.]
1. R. C. Ch.
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. Print.
A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3. Zool.
An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird Zool., an Australian bird (Tropidorhynchus corniculatus), having the head destitute of feathers; -- called also coldong, leatherhead, pimlico; poor soldier, and four-o'clock. The name is also applied to several other species of the same genus. -- Friar's balsam Med., a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin. Brande & C. -- Friar's cap Bot., the monkshood. -- Friar's cowl Bot., an arumlike plant (Arisarum vulgare) with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl. -- Friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp. Milton. -- Friar skate Zool., the European white or sharpnosed skate (Raia alba); -- called also Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.
© Webster 1913.