| Friar | n. [ OR. frere, F. frère 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Print.) A white or pale patch on a printed page. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Zool.) An American fish; the silversides. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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