v. Now chiefly dial. [? onomatopœic.]
† 1. intr. To make a harsh or strident noise; to creak. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 76/1. Cherkyn, or chorkyn, or fracchyn, as newe cartys or plowys, strideo.
2. To disagree, quarrel, scold.
1714. D’chess Marlborough, in Madresfield, Lett. (1875), 90. I am intirely of your Mind, that it is not the D. of Marl.’s businesse to fratch.
1764. T. Brydges, Homer Travest. (1797), II. 54.
| Whilst thus they fratch’d, the Greeks were getting | |
| Just finish’d, as the sun was setting. |
1802. R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball. (1805), 44. But let them fratch on.
1863. Mrs. Toogood, Yorksh, Dial. Joseph and his brethren got together fratching, and they put him in a pit.
1868. Holme Lee, B. Godfrey, I. xiii. 172. Mr. Godfrey and father can talk together for hours without fratching.
Hence Fratched ppl. a. In quot. transf. of a horse: Restive, vicious; Fratching vbl. sb., a scolding; Fratching ppl. a. (also Fratcheous, Fratchety, Fratchy adjs.), that scolds, quarrelsome. Also Fratch sb., a disagreement, quarrel; Fratcher, one who quarrels, a scold.
c. 1746. J. Collier (T. Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Wks. (1862), 52. Theyd’n some oth’ warst fratchingst Cumpany, ot e’er e saigh, for theyr’n warrying, banning, on cawing one onother lewsy Eawls, os thick os leet.
1764. T. Brydges, Homer Travest. (1797), II. 119.
| Juno, that fratching quean, pretended | |
| Her sense of smelling was offended. |
1802. R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball. (1805), 23.
| The clock it streykes eight, I mun heame, | |
| Or I’s git a deuce of a fratchin. | |
| Ibid. (1803), 64. | |
| When they cry’d ‘bonny Bell!’ he lap up to the ceilin, | |
| And aye crack’d his thoums for a bit of a fratch. |
1807. J. Stagg, Poems, The Bridewain, 6.
| Blackan o’ Warton, he was there, | |
| An’ Barwise Lads o’th’ Taros, | |
| Wi’ Irish Cursty, Canterin Ned, | |
| An’ fratcheous Gweordy Barns. |
1847. Halliw., Fratched, restive, vicious, applied to a horse. Fratcher, a scold; one who brags much. North.
1854. Dickens, Hard T., II. iv. ‘I ha never had no fratch afore, sin ever I were born, wi’ any o’ my like.’
1875. Waugh, Tufts Heather, Old Cronies, vii. Wks. 1881, IV. 285. Come, come, lads; let’s ha’ no fratchin’!
1875. Whitby Gloss., s.v. ‘A fratchy body.’
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Fratchety, peevish; irritable.
