Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 1 first, fyrst, frist, 2–4 first(e, south. virst, (3 ferst, feorst, forst), 3–4 furst (ü), 3–5 fres(s)t, (4 freist), 4 friste, 5 fryst, 5– frist. [OE. first, fyrst, frist masc. Cf. OFris. first, ferst neut., OS. frist, OHG. frist fem. (neut.) (MHG. vrist, Ger. frist fem.), ON. frest neut. pl. (fem. sing.).]

1

  1.  A space of time, time; a certain time.

2

Beowulf, 134. Næs hit lengra fyrst.

3

O. E. Chron., an. 918. Oþ þone first þe hie wurdon swiþe metelease.

4

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 229. Furtie daȝen firste [he] ham mid wnede.

5

c. 1205.  Lay., 12242. Wið innen ane ȝere, nes þer first na mare, iwrað þe king Gracien gumene forcuðest.

6

  2.  Delay, respite; also, a truce. To do in or a (= on) frist: to delay, procrastinate, give respite of. Of or on frist: (Sc.) in the future, at a distance. To frist: on loan or credit.

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c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 71. Ure deð he do in firste ȝet.

8

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 38. Ne scholde nomon don a virst ne slakien wel to donne.

9

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19225. Þe penis … he broght, wit-vten frest.

10

c. 1300.  Beket, 890. For-to þe nexte daie we biddez furst.

11

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 277. At to morn, but langar frest, Ȝe sall isch furth.

12

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 49. First of ten dayes were i-graunted.

13

14[?].  Tundale’s Vis., 59.

        He wold gyve dayes for his best
But he sold the derur for the fryst.

14

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 178/2. Freste, or to frest yn byynge or borowynge, mutuum.

15

c. 1450[?].  How goode wif taught daughter, 161, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 191. Borow nought blethely, ne take nought frest.

16

a. 1555.  Lyndesay, Peder Coffeis, 43. Ane dyvour coffe … Takis gudis to frist fra fremmit men.

17

1888.  J. Savile, The Chain, in Murray’s Mag., III. April, 497.

        Give me thy hand, dear Axel; thou must ride with me to-day;
My time is short, my frist is o’er, and I have much to say.

18

  attrib.  1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 49. Þe firste dayes.

19

Proverb. (Sc.) c. 1565.  Lindsay of Pitscottie, Chron. Scot. (1814), I. 238. All thir lordis war verrie blyth, thinking that all evil was guid of frist.

20

1808–80.  Jamieson, s.v. All ills are good a frist.

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