Fri·ar n.
1. R. C. Ch. A brother or member of any religious order, but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz: (a) Minors, Gray Friars, or Franciscans. (b) Augustines. (c) Dominicans or Black Friars. (d) White Friars or Carmelites. See these names in the Vocabulary.
2. Print. A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3. Zool. An American fish; the silversides.
Friar bird Zool., 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 Zool., the European white or sharpnosed skate (Raia alba); -- called also Burton skate, border ray, scad, and doctor.
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friar's lantern
n : a pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground
[syn: ignis fatuus, jack-o'-lantern, will-o'-the-wisp]