frisk

[ frisk ]

verb (used without object)

1. to dance, leap, skip, or gambol; frolic:

   The dogs and children frisked about on the lawn.

verb (used with object)

1. to search (a person) for concealed weapons, contraband goods, etc., by feeling the person's clothing:

   The police frisked both of the suspects.

noun

1. a leap, skip, or caper.
2. a frolic or gambol.
3. the act of frisking a person.

frisk

/ frɪsk /

verb

1. intr to leap, move about, or act in a playful manner; frolic
2. tr (esp of animals) to whisk or wave briskly

   the dog frisked its tail

3. tr
   1. to search (someone) by feeling for concealed weapons, etc
   2. to rob by searching in this way

noun

1. a playful antic or movement; frolic
2. the act or an instance of frisking a person

Derived Forms

• ˈfrisker, noun
• ˈfriskingly, adverb

Other Words From

• frisker noun
• frisking·ly adverb
• un·frisking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frisk¹

1425–75; late Middle English, as adj. < Middle French frisque, perhaps a spelling variant (with mute s ) of fri ( c ) que lively, smart < Germanic (compare Middle Dutch vrec, Old High German freh avaricious, Middle High German vrech brave, German frech insolent); or < Middle French (Flanders) frisque < Middle Dutch frisc fresh

Word History and Origins

Origin of frisk¹

C16: from Old French frisque , of Germanic origin; related to Old High German frisc lively, fresh

Example Sentences

The luggage is scanned and people are sometimes frisked before accessing the boarding lounge.

From BBC

He has said he would fund police to go after criminals and immigrants who are in the country without authorization in new, proactive ways, including through old strategies such as “stop and frisk.”

From Los Angeles Times

As the officers patted down Flores, the lights on the Nissan blinked — which they assumed was because their frisk had pushed a key fob in Flores’ possession.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a hot night, and the park was full of townsfolk, outdoors after dinner to keep cool, strolling on the graveled walks, chatting on the benches, laughing, watching the children romp and frisk about.

From Literature

As the lights came up, an old man dozed while a teenage boy and girl frisked nearby in an unconvincing body of water.

From New York Times