fret

fret

fret¹ [fret]

vt.

fretted, fretting [ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra-itan < Gmc prefix * fra- (OE for-: see FOR-) + * itan, to eat (OE etan: see EAT)]

1. to eat away; gnaw

2. to wear away by gnawing, rubbing, corroding, etc.

3. to make or form by wearing away

4. to make rough; disturb [wind fretting the water]

5. to irritate; vex; annoy; worry

vi.

1. to gnaw (into, on, or upon)

2. to become eaten, corroded, worn, frayed, etc.

3. to become rough or disturbed

4. to be irritated, annoyed, or querulous; worry

n.

1. a wearing away

2. a worn place

3. irritation; worry

fretter

n.

fret² [fret]

n.

[ME frette, prob. merging of OFr frete (Fr frette), interlaced work, with OE frætwa, ornament (> ? OFr frete)]

1. an ornamental net or network, esp. one formerly worn by women as a headdress

2. an ornamental pattern of small, straight bars intersecting or joining one another, usually at right angles, to form a regular design, as for a border or in an architectural relief

vt.

fretted, fretting

to ornament with a fret

fret³ [fret]

n.

[OFr frette, a band, ferrule]

any of several narrow, lateral ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc. to regulate the fingering

vt.

fretted, fretting

1. to furnish with frets

2. to press the strings (of a banjo, etc.) against the frets

fretless

adj.