Obs. Also 2 frude, -te, 3 frode, 5 frowde. [ME. frūde (rhyming with prūde); see FROG sb.1] A frog or toad.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 271. Þeor beð naddren and snaken eueten and frude [v. rr. fruden, frute].
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 251. Þe laðe helle wurmes, tadden ant froggen [v. r. froden] þe freoteð ham ut te ehnen.
c. 1440. Jacobs Well (E.E.T.S.), 209. He openyd his cofere in presence of his confessour, & fonde þer-in as manye frowdys as he putt þer-in almessis. Þe preest seyde: here þou seest how almes of euyl getyn good plesyth god! þat man seyde syth I falsly haue deuouryd þe peple of here good, þerfore þise frowdys schal deuowre my body qwyk.
1496. Dives & Paup. (W. de W.), I. xlvi. 87/1. Some man hadde leuer for to mete with a froude or a frogge in the waye than to mete with a knyght or a squyre.