Obs. Also 6 fricacion. [ad. L. fricātiōn-em, n. of action f. fricāre to rub.]
1. The action or process of chafing or rubbing (the body) with the hands. Cf. FRICACE and FRICTION 1.
1533. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 75 b. Then increase fricacions and exercise by litel & litel.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 58. Gentle Frication draweth forth the Nourishment, by making the Parts a little hungry, and heating them.
1661. K. W., Confused Characters, Detracting Empirick (1860), 65. This excrement of an apothecary, this quackroyall is never so much himself, as when he’s a pratling on things he cannot understand, and never so happy as when he’s a puzling the dull intellects of his silly patients with Greek, Latine words, and telling them what fractions, disloetions he hath set, how many humours he hath asswaged by frication, how many megrimicall and hypocondriacal humors he hath dissipated, what marvelous unheard of cures he hath done in places where he never was, nor ever will be.
1694. R. Burthogge, Reason, 85. Either by a vehement Agitation of the spirits within, or a violent Stroke, or a strong Frication of the eye from without.
2. The action of rubbing the surface of one body against that of another; friction.
1631. Jorden, Nat. Bathes, v. (1669), 29. The like we observe in Indian Canes, and some Woods that are unctuous, and full of Oyle, which yield fire by frication, or collision, not by kindling the air thereby, but inflamable Oyle in them.
1664. Power, Experimental Philosophy, III. 156. A well polish’d stick of hard Wax (immediately after frication) will almost as vigorously move the Directory Needle, as the Loadstone it self.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Shrouding, They [trees] need no fence … as standing in no Danger of the Brousings and Frications of Cattle or Conies.
