Friar
any religious of the male sex belonging to a monastic order. Thus, the Capuchins were originally called Friars Hermits Minor, and the Observants more permanently, Friars Observant. The term is used specifically for religious belonging to one of the four mendicant orders for men: (a) The FRANCISCANS (q. v.), or Friars Minor, popularly called Gray Friars; (b) the Dominicans, or Preaching Friars, popularly called Black Friars; (c) the Augustinians; (d) the Carmelities, popularly known as White Friars. In printing, a friar is a pale patch on a printed sheet.