Also fretté(e. [ad. OFr. fretté, f. frete trellis-work: see FRET sb.1]
1. Her. ‘Covered with a number of narrow bars or sticks—usually eight—lying in the directions of the Bend and Bend-sinister, interlacing each other’ (Cussans). † Of a charge: Fretted or interlaced with.
1562. Legh, Armorie, 158 b. If there be mo then viii Peces, then shall it be blazed frette and neuer tell the pices.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 36 b. This Cheuron may be borne frettie with an other.
1705. Hearne, Collect., 24 Nov. [He] bore for his Armes Or frettè gules, with a Besant on each joynt of ye Frettè.
1844. Page, Suppl. Suff. Trav., 159. Willoughby: or; fretty, azure.
1850. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 109. Morville bears the Fretty fleurs-de-lis.
absol. quasi-sb.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2217/4. The following Coats of Arms … viz. A Frettee of Six Barrs, and a Party-parpale Indented Quarter’d Coat upon the one Pair.
1869. W. S. Ellis, Antiq. Her., x. 236. The Lord Audley as a special favour, and reward for their valour at Poictiers, allowed four of his esquires to bear his own fretty in their coat armour.
† 2. transf.
a. 1618. J. Davies, Sonnet Oxf. Univ., 13.
| But Oxford, ô I praise thy situation | |
| Passing Pernassus, Muses habitation! | |
| Thy Bough-deckt-dainty Walkes, with Brooks beset | |
| Fretty, like Christall Knots, in mould of Iet. |
