Frails

/freɪlz/ noun

Definition

Plural form of frail; multiple rush or wicker baskets historically used for transporting dried fruits, raisins, or similar goods.

Etymology

English plural of 'frail', a noun meaning a type of basket. The basket-type 'frail' comes from Old French 'fraiel', possibly from Latin 'fragilis', as baskets are woven from fragile materials.

Kelly Says

A 'frail' was a specific commercial basket—knowing the exact container shape tells us how medieval trade was standardized, with frails becoming recognized units of commerce like our boxes and pallets today!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.