Associations to the word «Fray»

Wiktionary

FRAY, noun. Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
FRAY, noun. (archaic) fright
FRAY, verb. (intransitive) To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
FRAY, verb. (intransitive) (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
FRAY, verb. (transitive) (archaic) frighten; alarm
FRAY, verb. (transitive) To bear the expense of; to defray.
FRAY, verb. (intransitive) To rub.

Dictionary definition

FRAY, noun. A noisy fight.
FRAY, verb. Wear away by rubbing; "The friction frayed the sleeve".
FRAY, verb. Cause friction; "my sweater scratches".

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats