n. [ Cf. F. friabilité. ] The quality of being friable; friableness. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. friabilis, fr. friare to rub, break, or crumble into small pieces, cf. fricare to rub, E. fray: cf. F. friable. ] Easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. “Friable ground.” Evelyn. “Soft and friable texture.” Paley. -- Fri'a*ble*ness, n. [ 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 ]

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 ]

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

n. [ See Friable. ] The act of breaking up or pulverizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. frivole, L. frivolus, or E. frippery. ] Frivolous; trifling; silly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A frivolous, contemptible fellow; a fop. [ 1913 Webster ]

A pert fribble of a peer. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]