FRICTION 



2339 



FRIGATE BIRD 



minicans and Franciscans, inspired by humil- 

 ity, designated their followers by the simple 

 title of brother. Saint Francis called his dis- 

 ciples friars minor, or lesser brothers, while 

 Saint Dominic termed his Order the preaching 

 friars. The popular English names of these 

 Orders, derived from the distinguishing char- 

 acteristics of their habits, are preserved to the 

 present time in the names of English streets 

 and localities. Examples of these are gray 

 friars (Franciscans), black friars (Dominicans), 

 white friars (Carmelites), Austin friars (Au- 

 gustinians), etc. See MONK; MONASTICISM. 

 (i FRICTION, frik'shun, a word derived from 

 the Latin fricare, meaning *to rub f is applied 

 in physics to the resistance which one body 

 offers to another when dragged or pushed across 

 its surface. If two objects with flat surfaces 

 are placed one on top of the other so that 

 their surfaces are in close contact the topmost 

 object may be lifted without resistance except 

 that of gravity. If, however, an attempt is 

 made to push the topmost object along the 

 surface of the other, friction occurs. 



Friction is greater between rough than be- 

 tween smooth surfaces. It is friction that 

 makes the wheels of a locomotive grip the 

 rails of the track; it causes an endless belt 

 to turn the wheels over which it is placed. 

 Without friction few motions would be pos- 

 sible, and trains would have to be run by 

 machinery consisting chiefly of cogwheels. 

 Unevenness of surfaces causes friction and loss 

 and energy in machinery, and leads to the use 

 of oil to fill the spaces so that the surfaces 

 will move upon each other the more readily. 



FRI'DAY, the sixth day of the week, derived 

 from the German word frcitag, which means 

 day of Freya. Freya, or Freyja, who was the 

 goddess of love in Norse mythology, was 

 driven in a beautiful chariot, drawn by cats, 

 and liked music, spring and flowers. One 

 thing known concerning the very ancient Scan- 

 dinavians is that they considered Friday their 

 "luckiest" day, but, since the crucifixion of 

 Christ on that day, many people regard it 

 with superstitious dread. In the Roman Cath- 

 olic, Anglican and Greek churches, Fridays, 

 except when they fall on Christmas, are ob- 

 served as days of fast in memory of the cruci- 

 fixion, while the Friday before Easter, called 

 Good Friday, is observed quite generally 

 among Christians as the day of the Passion. 

 Among the Mohammedans it is the day for 

 religious gatherings, chosen as the day on 

 which Adam was created and as the day of 



Resurrection. From its association with the 

 crucifixion, it is considered the proper day 

 to set for the execution of criminals and as 

 such is sometimes called hangman's day. See 

 FREYJA. 



FRIEND 'LY ISLANDS, the name given by 

 Captain Cook, the discoverer, to the Tonga 

 Islands (which see). 



FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF. See QUAKERS. 



FRIG 'ATE, a former type of war vessel 

 which was larger than a sloop and smaller than 

 a battleship. The term was first applied to 

 fast-sailing merchant vessels which were hired 

 in the sixteenth century for service with the 



A FRIGATE 



A type of the most popular style of vessel prior 

 to the period of the War of Secession. 



English navy. The first frigate built as a war 

 vessel was the Constant Warwick which, in 

 1677, became part of the navy and carried 

 forty-two guns. In the eighteenth century 

 frigates were regarded as the best type of 

 fighting ships. The English vessels had a ton- 

 nage of from 500 to 1,200, while some of those 

 built for the United States navy were larger. 

 Frigates carried three masts and were known 

 as "full-rigged ships." The most famous frig- 

 ate of the United States navy was the Con- 

 stitution, launched October 21, 1797- (see CON- 

 STITUTION). The introduction of ironclad ves- 

 sels caused the building of frigates to be 

 completely abandoned. "Cruisers" now occupy 

 the position in the navy formerly taken by 

 frigates. See WARSHIP. 



FRIGATE BIRD, or MAN-OF-WAR BIRD, 

 a bird of prey, which, on account of its im- 

 mense extent of wing and its dashing habits, 



