Noah Webster
Fray
FRAY, noun [Latin fractura, from frango, frico.]
1. A boil, quarrel or violent riot, that puts men in fear. This is the vulgar word for affray, and the sense seems to refer the word to Fr. effrayer.
2. A combat; a battle; also, a single combat or duel.
3. A contest; contention.
4. A rub; a fret or chafe in cloth; a place injured by rubbing.
FRAY, verb transitive To fright; to terrify. obsolete
FRAY, verb transitive [Latin frico, to rub.]
1. To rub; to fret, as cloth by wearing.
2. To rub; as, a deer frays his head.