frog

¹

[ frawg, frog ]

noun

1. any tailless, stout-bodied amphibian of the order Anura, including the smooth, moist-skinned frog species that live in a damp or semiaquatic habitat and the warty, drier-skinned toad species that are mostly terrestrial as adults.
2. Also called true frog, any frog of the widespread family Ranidae, most members of which are semiaquatic and have smooth, moist skin and relatively long hind legs used for leaping. Compare toad ( def 2 ).
3. a slight hoarseness, usually caused by mucus on the vocal cords:

   a frog in the throat.

4. (often initial capital letter) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a French person or a person of French descent.
5. a small holder made of heavy material, placed in a bowl or vase to hold flower stems in position.
6. a recessed panel on one of the larger faces of a brick or the like.
7. Music. nut ( def 11b ).

verb (used without object)

, frogged, frog·ging.

1. to hunt and catch frogs.

adjective

1. (often initial capital letter) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. French or Frenchlike.

frog

²

[ frog, frawg ]

noun

1. an ornamental fastening for the front of a coat, consisting of a button and a loop through which it passes.
2. a sheath suspended from a belt and supporting a scabbard.

frog

³

[ frog, frawg ]

noun

1. Railroads. a device at the intersection of two tracks to permit the wheels and flanges on one track to cross or branch from the other.

frog

⁴

[ frog, frawg ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. a triangular mass of elastic, horny substance in the middle of the sole of the foot of a horse or related animal.

frog

¹

/ frɒɡ /

noun

1. often plural a decorative fastening of looped braid or cord, as on the front of a 19th-century military uniform
2. a loop or other attachment on a belt to hold the scabbard of a sword, etc
3. music
   1. the ledge or ridge at the upper end of the fingerboard of a violin, cello, etc, over which the strings pass to the tuning pegs
   2. the end of a violin bow that is held by the player Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)nut

frog

²

/ frɒɡ /

noun

1. a grooved plate of iron or steel placed to guide train wheels over an intersection of railway lines

frog

³

/ frɒɡ /

noun

1. a tough elastic horny material in the centre of the sole of a horse's foot

frog

⁴

/ frɒɡ /

noun

1. any insectivorous anuran amphibian of the family Ranidae , such as Rana temporaria of Europe, having a short squat tailless body with a moist smooth skin and very long hind legs specialized for hopping
2. any of various similar amphibians of related families, such as the tree frog batrachian
3. any spiked or perforated object used to support plant stems in a flower arrangement
4. a recess in a brick to reduce its weight
5. a frog in one's throat
   phlegm on the vocal cords that affects one's speech

verb

1. intr to hunt or catch frogs

Frog

⁵

/ frɒɡ; ˈfrɒɡɪ /

noun

1. a derogatory word for a French person

Sensitive Note

The use of the word frog to mean “a French person” is a slur that arose because the French were stereotypically thought of as eating frogs.

Other Words From

• frog·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frog¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English frogge, Old English frogga, frocga; compare dialectal Middle English frosh, Old Norse froskr, Old High German frosk ( German Frosch ); frog ¹defs 5, 6 of unclear derivation

Origin of frog²

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps from Portuguese froco, from Latin floccus “tuft of wool”; flock ²

Origin of frog³

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; of uncertain origin

Origin of frog⁴

First recorded in 1600–10; compare earlier frush in same sense, probably from French fourchette “fork” ( fourchette ); presumably identified with dialectal frosh “frog,” hence with frog ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of frog¹

C18: perhaps ultimately from Latin floccus tuft of hair, flock ²

Origin of frog²

C19: of uncertain origin; perhaps a special use of frog ¹

Origin of frog³

C17: of uncertain origin

Origin of frog⁴

Old English frogga ; related to Old Norse froskr , Old High German forsk

Example Sentences

Majority of frogs in the United States are now gay.

From Los Angeles Times

Check Felipe the frog, whose piano is constructed in part out of a chocolate box.

From Los Angeles Times

Although mosquitoes can carry diseases, they are an important part of the food chain - as nourishment for fish, birds, bats and frogs, for example - and some are important pollinators.

From BBC

The result is an oversized denim work jacket fastened by frog buttons; long denim aprons, inspired by matriarch “Popo” Wendy Leon’s years in formal catering, also use denim and frog buttons.

From Los Angeles Times

A recent study in the journal Nature Climate Change found that severe increases in aridity caused by climate change is drying out frog habitats across the globe.

From Salon

Related Words

• toad