Fri"ar (?), 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.
2. (Print.) A white or pale patch on
a printed page.
3. (Zoöl.) An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), the European white or sharpnosed skate (Raia alba); -- called also
Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.
Hear it pronounced