Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US campus) a socially unacceptable person, a freeloader.

1989

P. Munro Sl. U.

2. (US campus) a foolish person, an idiot.

1989		P. Munro Sl. U.
1993		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 2: fred – a loser.

3. (US campus, also freddie) a term of address to a friend.

1977		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 3: freddie – a fraternity member (often derogatory).
1989		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 3: fred – noun of direct address used by males only when talking to a roommate or very close friend.

4. (Aus.) the average Australian.

1973		M. Harris Angry Eye 21: Even down where the Freds are browsing in their nocturnal pastures, the herd heroes are largely wasted. The John Laws and Brian Hendersons of Fredsville could well be their own men, real individuals down in the jungle of the sub-culture.
1975		Sun. Tel. (Sydney) 20 Apr. 90: The Centura is aimed at what is loosely known as the average Fred market – the ordinary family motorist who wants basic transport for a price and who is not an imported car buff [GAW4].
1983		R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 28: Freddies Foolish males.
1990		Australian 29 Sept. 30: What might the fence-line Freds camped on the hill [at the Mt Panorama racing circuit] make of this? [GAW4].