(Eccl.) A friar of the Dominican order, so named because wearing the black mantle of the Dominicans; -- called also predicant and preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.
Syn. -- Dominican. [ 1913 Webster ]

A friar who acted as porter at the gate of a monastery. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To depose or withdraw from the condition of a friar. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Many did quickly unnun and disfriar themselves. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

a. Like a friar; inexperienced. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A tuberous perennial (Arisarum vulgare) having a cowl-shaped maroon or violet-black spathe; -- found in the Mediterranean, Canaries, and Azores.
Syn. -- friars' cowl, Arisarum vulgare. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ From Friar, n. ] Like a friar; pertaining to friars or to a convent. [ Obs. ] Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. frerie, frairie, fr. frère. See Friar. ] 1. A monastery; a convent of friars. Drugdale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The institution or practices of friars. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Eccl.) A mendicant monk of the Carmelite order, so called from the white cloaks worn by the order. See Carmelite. [ 1913 Webster ]