Friese

/friːz/ noun

Definition

A variant spelling of 'frieze,' a decorative band or strip, often carved or painted, on a wall or building.

Etymology

Alternate spelling of 'frieze' (from French 'frise', possibly from Latin 'frigium' or Italian 'fregio'). Spelling variations were common in earlier English.

Kelly Says

Old spellings like 'friese' remind us that English spelling wasn't standardized until the dictionary era—people spelled phonetically, so one word could look completely different depending on who was writing.

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