v. Forms: 4–7 frote, (4 froote, Sc. froit), 6–7 frott(e, 7 froat(e, 4– frot; pa. pple. 4 ifroted, 5 yfrote. [a. OF. froter (mod.Fr. frotter), of unknown origin.]

1

  † 1.  trans. To rub, chafe; spec. to polish (a precious stone); to rub (a garment) with perfumes; in early use, to stroke, caress (an animal). Obs.

2

a. 1225.  [see FROTTING vbl. sb.].

3

c. 1320.  Orfeo, 77. She froted hur hondys and hur fete.

4

c. 1340.  Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 1919. Her [dogs’] hedez þay fawne & frote.

5

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 1174. Hee raught forthe his right hand · & his [Bucephalus’] rigge frotus.

6

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, Pelagia, 71. For-þi he one þe cause fel … & one þe erde froittit his face.

7

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 17. Ȝif he [a stoon] is i-froted and i-het, he holdeþ what hym neiȝheþ. Ibid. (Rolls), IV. 25. Ȝongelynges … frotede þe oliphauntes in þe forhedes wiþ hors combes.

8

c. 1440.  Partonope, 1927. Embrowded with peerle wele y-frote.

9

c. 1450.  Merlin, 76. Frote youre visage with this herbe, and youre handes.

10

1561.  Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 2. Let him frot the head sore therewyth.

11

1562.  Legh, Armorie (1597), 51 b–52. The Hart is a worthy beast, and of light hearing. Isidore saith, that when he goeth to fight, hee froteth his hornes to make them sharpe.

12

1600.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev. (1616), V. iv. I assure you, sir, pure beniamin … I frotted a jerkin, for a new-reuenu’d gentleman, yeelded me three score crownes but this morning, and the same titillation.

13

1608.  Middleton, Trick, etc., IV. iii. A sweet debt for froating your doublets.

14

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 239/1. Frott, or Rub themselves, as Hawks will do: Frot her Eyes against the Ponions of her Wings; is to rub her Eyes on her Wings.

15

  absol.  c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cxxxiii. (1869), 127. On that oon side [j can] frote and enoynte.

16

  fig.  a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, cxxxi. 5. Wiþ þis thoght frote þi for heuyd.

17

  2.  Tanning. To work or render supple by rubbing.

18

1853.  [see FROTTING vbl. sb.].

19

  Hence † Froterer, one who rubs.

20

1607.  Marston, What you will, III. i. E iv b. I am his froterer or rubber in a Hot-house.

21