frist

Meanings

1. A certain space or period of time; respite.
2. Time allotted for repayment; a term (in which a debt is to be repaid); a delay; respite; suspension.
3. Credit; trust.

1. To grant respite; especially, to give a debtor credit or time for payment.
2. To defer; postpone.

Etymology

From Middle English *frist, frest, first, furst, from Old English fierst (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic *fristiz, *frestą (“date, appointed time”), from Proto-Indo-European *pres-, *per- (“forward, forth, over, beyond”). Cognate with North Frisian ferst, frest (“period, time”), German Frist (“period, deadline, term”), Swedish frist (“deadline, respite, reprieve, time-limit”), Icelandic frestur (“period”). See also first.