The Middle English Term Froten : Absolon and Barber-Surgery

Description: When Absolon "froteth" his lips upon realizing the real target of his kiss in MilT, he acts in accordance with his training as a barber-surgeon. More than a synonym for "to rub," the verb "froten" connotes a range of medical and surgical approaches to remedying oral suffering or, in Absolon's case, a literal and metaphorical "passion" of the mouth.