transitive verb fretted fret′·ted, fretting fret′·ting

1. to eat away; gnaw
2. to wear away by gnawing, rubbing, corroding, etc.
3. to make or form by wearing away
4. to make rough; disturb wind fretting the water
5. to irritate; vex; annoy; worry

Etymology: ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra-itan < Gmc prefix *fra- (OE for-: see for-) + *itan, to eat (OE etan: see eat)

intransitive verb

1. to gnaw (into, on, or upon)
2. to become eaten, corroded, worn, frayed, etc.
3. to become rough or disturbed
4. to be irritated, annoyed, or querulous; worry

noun

1. a wearing away
2. a worn place
3. irritation; worry

noun

1. an ornamental net or network, esp. one formerly worn by women as a headdress
2. an ornamental pattern of small, straight bars intersecting or joining one another, usually at right angles, to form a regular design, as for a border or in an architectural relief

Etymology: ME frette, prob. merging of OFr frete (Fr frette), interlaced work, with OE frætwa, ornament (> ? OFr frete)

transitive verb fretted fret′·ted, fretting fret′·ting

noun

Etymology: OFr frette, a band, ferrule

transitive verb fretted fret′·ted, fretting fret′·ting

1. to furnish with frets
2. to press the strings (of a banjo, etc.) against the frets