a. (sb.) Obs. [a. F. friand dainty; according to Hatz.-Darm. an alteration of friant, pa. pple. of frire, the primary sense being ‘qui grille (d’impatience).’] A. adj. Dainty; delicious to the palate; fond of delicate food. B. sb. A person of dainty taste in food, an epicure.

1

1598.  Florio, Leccardo, a glutton, a friand, a gurmand.

2

1599.  A. Hume, Hymns (1832), 11. The little friand fish in flude, and dentie volatil.

3

1603.  Florio, Montaigne, III. xiii. (1632), 622. I am very friand and gluttonous of fish; and keepe my shroving dayes upon fish dayes; and my feats upon fasting-dayes.

4

1792.  Bentham, Wks. (1838–43), X. 276. The good family wanted something friand for a side dish.

5

1818.  T. Moore, Fudge Family, 22.

        After dreaming some hours of the land of Cocaigne,
  That Elysium of all that is friand and nice,
Where for hail they have bon-bons, and claret for rain,
  And the skaiters in winter show off on cream-ice.

6