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Fray vs Cray - What's the difference?

fray | cray |

As nouns the difference between fray and cray

is that fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee while cray is a crayfish or lobster.

As a verb fray

is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.

As an adjective cray is

crazy.

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
    • Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Who began this bloody fray ?
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
  • (archaic) fright

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
    • The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
  • (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
    • The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
  • (archaic) frighten; alarm
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
    • "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
  • * Spenser
    • What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
  • To bear the expense of; to defray.
  • * Massinger
    • The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
  • To rub.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .

    cray

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A crayfish or lobster.

    • Etymology 2

    From crazy by shortening.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (slang) Crazy.
  • * 2010 , Cory Giger, " NFL commish slaps Steelers in face with weak punishment of Seymour", The Altoona Mirror (Altoona, Pennsylvania), 23 November 2010:
    • That small of a fine for that kind of blatant disregard is cray .
  • * 2012 , " Sharm x Savoy + Kiss = Happy RWD", Fazer , Issue 127, September 2012, page 80:
    • Before his set, RWD somehow found time to back a quick vodka shot in the Ice Bar downstairs - yes we're aware an ice bar in the desert is cray .
  • * 2013 , Dani Kellner, " 20 Things Your Ten Year Old Self Could Do at Cornell", Slope , Spring 2013, page 18:
    • Also, make sure you look both ways first, because the traffic is cray .
  • *
    • Synonyms
    * See also . English clippings

    Anagrams

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