frist

plural frists

1. countableobsoleteuncountableA certain space or period of time; respite.
2. UKcountabledialectaluncountableTime allotted for repayment; a term (in which a debt is to be repaid); a delay; respite; suspension.

   His was a short frist (He had a short life).

   3 more examples

   Yitt they caused the lordis that war vpoun on the panell, that schould have thoalled judgment, to find cautioun everie ane of thame, vnder the paine of certane soumes, to answer at ane certane apoynted to thame. Yitt all thir lordis war verrie blyth, think and that all evill was guid of frist, in speciall the lord David Lindsay was so blyth at his brothers sayingis, that he burst furth, saying to him: "Verrilie brother, yea have fyne pyatt wordis. I wold not have trowed, be St Amarie, that yea had sick wordis".

   1578, Robert Lindsay, The Cronicles of Scotland

   All Ills are good a frist.

   1721, James Kelly, Scottish Proverbs

   My time is short, my frist is o'er, and I have much to say.

   1888, Murray's Magazine

3. UKcountabledialectaluncountableCredit; trust.

   Credit and frist is quyte away, / No thing is lent bot for usure; […]

   c. 1568, William Lauder, The Lamenatioun of The Pure

   2 more examples

   Sald tham to fryst to a man of the Hag, […] Sold them to frist to a man of The Hague, […]

   1492–1503, Andrew Halyburton, Andrew Halyburton's ledger

   Ane dyvour coffe, that wirry hen, / Distroyis the honor of our natioun, / Takis gudis to frist fra fremmit men, / And brekis his obligatioun. One bankrupt rouge , that wirry hen, / destroys the honor of our nation / takes goods to frist from fremd men, / and breaks his obligation.

   a1568, Sir David Lindsay, Ane Discriptioun of Peder Coffeis

present singular third person frists · participle present fristing · participle past fristed · past fristed

1. UKdialectalTo grant respite; especially, to give a debtor credit or time for payment.
2. UKambitransitivedialectalTo defer; postpone.

   Na, na, lassie. Dinna be too confident. “What's fristed is no forgotten."

   1884, Lucy Ellen Guernsey, Loveday's History: A Tale of Many Changes, page 105

   2 more examples

   Now, in the strength of Jesus, dispatch your business; that debt is not forgiven, but fristed: death hath not bidden you farewel, but hath only left you for a short season.

   1765, Samuel Rutherford, Joshua Redivivus, page 323

   Alexander's early backsliding, when "he thrawed his mouth" at the minister — a sin beside which the modern lèse majesté seems venial, —had been fristed but not forgiven, and again he was summoned to appear before the session.

   1924, James S. Wilkie, The History of Fife, page 553