Obs. Forms: 5 frounch, 5 fronse, 6 fronce, frounze, 68 frownce, 5 frounce. [Of obscure origin; no similar word of like meaning is known in Fr.
Perhaps it may be etymologically identical with prec. or due to some mistake; cf. FRONCLE and FORMICA 2.]
1. A canker or sore in the mouth of a hawk.
a. 1450. Treat. Fysshynge w. Angle (1883), 3. With mysfedyng þen schall sche haue the frounce.
c. 1450. Bk. Hawkyng in Rel. Ant., I. 301. Of the f[r]ounches it is drede for it is a noyous sekenes.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, C vj b. Blaynis in haukes mouthes cald frounches.
1587. Turberv., Trag. Tales, 183. The frounce consume the flesh of her, that feedes vpon my bones.
1674. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., II. (1677), 249. The Frownce proceedeth from moist and cold Humours which descend from the Hawks Head to the Palate.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Rye, It causes the Frownce, or a perpetual dropping Humour, very hard to be curd.
1820. Scott, Abbot, iv. Twere the ready way to give her the frounce.
2. A disease in the mouth of a horse: see quot. 1587. Cf. CAMERY.
1587. L. Mascall, Govt. Cattel, Horses (1627), 131. The frounce is a disease soone cured, and they are smal pimples or warts in the midst of the pallat of his mouth aboue, and they are soft, and they will let him to eat his meat.
1610. [see CAMERY].
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Camery or Frounce, a Distemper in Horses.
In mod. Dicts.