The Collaborative International Dictionary
Friar \Fri"ar\, n. [OR. frere, F. fr[`e]re brother, friar, fr. L. frater brother. See Brother.]
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(R. C. Ch.) A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz:
Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans.
Augustines.
Dominicans or Black Friars.
White Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
(Print.) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
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(Zo["o]l.) An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird (Zo["o]l.), an Australian bird ( Tropidorhynchus corniculatus), having the head destitute of feathers; -- called also coldong, leatherhead, pimlico; poor soldier, and four-o'clock. The name is also applied to several other species of the same genus.
Friar's balsam (Med.), a stimulating application for wounds and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin, styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of benzoin.
--Brande & C.Friar's cap (Bot.), the monkshood.
Friar's cowl (Bot.), an arumlike plant ( Arisarum vulgare) with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl.
Friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or Will-o'-the-wisp.
--Milton.Friar skate (Zo["o]l.), the European white or sharpnosed skate ( Raia alba); -- called also Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.