Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fred \Fred\ (fr[e^]d), n. [AS. fri[eth] peace. See {Frith}
   inclosure.]
   Peace; -- a word used in composition, especially in proper
   names; as, Alfred; Frederic.

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

FRED
     
        Robert Carr.  Language used by Framework, Ashton-Tate.
     
        [{Jargon File}]

fred
     
        1. The personal name most frequently used as a {metasyntactic
        variable} (see {foo}).  Allegedly popular because it's easy
        for a non-touch-typist to type on a standard QWERTY keyboard.
        Unlike {J. Random Hacker} or "J. Random Loser", this name has
        no positive or negative loading (but see {Mbogo, Dr. Fred}).
        See also {barney}.
     
        2. An acronym for "Flipping Ridiculous Electronic Device";
        other F-verbs may be substituted for "flipping".