friar \fri"ar\, n. or. frere, f. fr`ere brother, friar, fr.
   l. frater brother. see brother.
   1. r. c. ch. a brother or member of any religious order,
      but especially of one of the four mendicant orders, viz:
      a minors, gray friars, or franciscans. b
      augustines. c dominicans or black friars. d white
      friars or carmelites. see these names in the vocabulary.
      1913 webster

   2. print. a white or pale patch on a printed page.
      1913 webster

   3. zool. an american fish; the silversides.
      1913 webster

   friar bird zool., an australian bird tropidorhynchus
      corniculatus, having the head destitute of feathers; --
      called also coldong, leatherhead, pimlico; poor
      soldier, and four-o'clock. the name is also applied to
      several other species of the same genus.

   friar's balsam med., a stimulating application for wounds
      and ulcers, being an alcoholic solution of benzoin,
      styrax, tolu balsam, and aloes; compound tincture of
      benzoin. --brande  c.

   friar's cap bot., the monkshood.

   friar's cowl bot., an arumlike plant arisarum vulgare
      with a spathe or involucral leaf resembling a cowl.

   friar's lantern, the ignis fatuus or will-o'-the-wisp.
      --milton.

   friar skate zool., the european white or sharpnosed skate
      raia alba; -- called also burton skate, border
      ray, scad, and doctor.
      1913 webster
see also:
brother a minors, gray friars, or franciscans. b augustines c dominicans or black friars. d white friars or carmelites. friar bird 
tropidorhynchus corniculatus coldong leatherhead pimlico poor soldier 
four-o'clock friar's balsam friar's cap friar's cowl arisarum vulgare 
friar's lantern friar skate raia alba burton skate border ray 
scad doctor