In Dutch a "vrijer" is a love-maker, and "vrije" a free man (an outlaw). I think in German there is the same wordplay.
To tell the embarrassing truth, when I first came to Israel and heard the word frier, what always popped into my head was Friar, as in Friar Tuck. Not really knowing the meaning, but just figuring it had something to do with religion, I assumed it was not related, but now, looking on answers.com, I found:
"...since the 13th cent. it has been used to describe members of orders forbidden to hold property. They are called mendicants because they were expected to work or, as later developed, beg for a living..."
That totally sounds like modern-day Israeli friers, no? Work and beg all the time and never own anything? I think that this may work as a fourth option for you :)
Another possible origin for "freier": The word has been used by the observant to describe the non-religious ("one who feels free of the yoke of observance"). This was extended to anyone who is missing out on something, be it eternal grace in return for obeying the Torah, or "knowing the ropes" and safeguarding one's interests in any respect.
I amused that you emended your Wikipedia quote rather than emending the source article... =)
David - I have seen that explanation tossed around, but haven't seen any quotes that it was specifically used by the religious. In fact, the term doesn't seem to be all that old.
Joel - I was considering that, but it seemed kind of weird to quote myself. Feel free to update the Wikipedia page...
What's wrong with quoting yourself? Academics do it all the time!
Could the word be from Romanian "fraier", meaning "sucker", which is also derived from German/Yiddish?
Commenting by HaloScan
