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Fay vs Fray - What's the difference?

fay | fray |

As verbs the difference between fay and fray

is that fay is to fit while fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.

As nouns the difference between fay and fray

is that fay is a fairy; an elf while fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.

As an adjective fay

is white.

As a proper noun Fay

is {{surname|A=An|English|from=nicknames}}, originally a nickname from "faith, loyalty" or "a fairy".

fay

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) feyen, feien, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Verb

(en verb)
  • To fit.
  • To join or unite closely or tightly.
  • * US Patent Application 20070033853, 2006:
    • Under the four outer corners of the horizontal frame platform 22 are four tubular leg sleeves 23 that are fay together one at each outer corner.
  • * Model Shipbuilders , 2010:
    • I have a strip cutter and I can cut the exact widths I need to fit, they are easy to fay together and attach very firmly to the bulkheads.
  • To lie close together.
  • To fadge.
    • Derived terms
    * faying surface

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fegien, . More at (l), (l), (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (dialectal) To cleanse; clean out.

    • Etymology 3

    (etyl) faie, . More at fairy.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fairy; an elf.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.ii:
    • that mighty Princesse did complaine / Of grieuous mischiefes, which a wicked Fay / Had wrought [...].
    See also
    * fey * fae

    Etymology 4

    Abbreviation of (ofay).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A white person.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • White.
  • * 1946 , Mezz Mezzrow and Bernard Wolfe, Really the Blues , Payback Press 1999, p. 62:
    • I really went for Ray's press roll on the drums; he was the first fay boy I ever heard who mastered this vital foundation of jazz music.

    Anagrams

    *

    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 .