de·fray / diˈfrā/ • v. [tr.] provide money to pay (a cost or expense): the proceeds from the raffle help to defray the expenses of the evening.DERIVATIVES: de·fray·a·ble adj.de·fray·al / -ˈfrāəl/ n.de·fray·ment n.ORIGIN: late Middle English (in the general sense ‘spend money’): from French défrayer, from dé- (expressing removal) + obsolete frai ‘cost, expenses’ (from medieval Latin fredum ‘a fine for breach of the peace’).

defray †disburse; discharge (expense). XVI. — (O)F. défrayer (†deff-, †desf-), f. DE- 6 + †frai(t) (usu. pl. frais, †fres) expenses, cost :- medL. fredus, fine for breach of the peace — Frank. *friðu peace.