Defn: The worn sides of river banks, where ores, or stones containing them, accumulate by being washed down from the hills, and thus indicate to the miners the locality of the veins.
FRET Fret, v. t. Etym: [OE. fretten to adorn, AS. frætwan, frætwian; akin to OS. fratah, cf. Goth. us-fratwjan to make wise, also AS. frætwe ornaments, OS. fratahi adornment.]
Defn: To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to diversify.
Whose skirt with gold was fretted all about. Spenser.
Yon gray lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. Shak.
FRET
Fret, n.
1. Ornamental work in relief, as carving or embossing. See Fretwork.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament consisting of smmall fillets or slats intersecting each other or bent at right angles, as in classical designs, or at obilique angles, as often in Oriental art. His lady's cabinet is a adorned on the fret, ceiling, and chimney- piece with . . . carving. Evelyn.
3. The reticulated headdress or net, made of gold or silver wire, in which ladies in the Middle Ages confined their hair. A fret of gold she had next her hair. Chaucer. Fret saw, a saw with a long, narrow blade, used in cutting frets, scrolls, etc.; a scroll saw; a keyhole saw; a compass saw.
FRET Fret, n. Etym: [F. frette a saltire, also a hoop, ferrule, prob. a dim. of L. ferrum iron. For sense 2, cf. also E. fret to rub.]
1. (Her.)