Fresh"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freshened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Freshening (?)] 1. To make fresh; to separate, as water, from saline ingredients; to make less salt; as, to freshen water, fish, or flesh.

2. To refresh; to revive. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. (Naut.) To relieve, as a rope, by change of place where friction wears it; or to renew, as the material used to prevent chafing; as, to freshen a hawse. Totten.

To freshen ballast(Naut.), to shift Or restore it. -- To freshen the hawse, to pay out a little more cable, so as to bring the chafe on another part. -- To freshen the way, to increase the speed of a vessel.Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Fresh"en (?), v. i. 1. To grow fresh; to lose saltness.

2. To grow brisk or strong; as, the wind freshens.