Obs. Also frees. (See quots.) Also freeze-water, water used for diluting wine.
16[?]. Songs Lond. Prentices (Percy Soc.), 155.
First let me have but a touch of your ale, | |
Twill steel me gainst cold weather, | |
Or tinkers frees, | |
Or vintners lees, | |
Or tobacco, chuse you whether. |
1658. trans. Portas Nat. Magick, XVIII. vi. 382. For freeze-water [orig. has aqua only] is thinner than new wine, and lighter, it causeth the Apple to sink.
1698. In Vino Veritas, 8. A Liquid nick-named Freeze, which is but a hungry, thin, sorry kind of Cyder, which does us a kindness in lowering our Wines.
1719. DUrfey, Pills, III. 104.
When at the last they had fetched their Frees, | |
And mired their Stomachs quite up to their Knees | |
In Claret and good Cheer. |