phreak

American  

[freek] / frik /

noun

Slang.

1. phone phreak.

---

verb (used without object)

phreaked, phreaking

1. to act as a phone phreak.

verb (used with object)

phreaked, phreaking

1. to tamper with (telephones) as a phone phreak does.

Etymology

Origin of phreak

First recorded in 1970–75; altered spelling of freak ¹ ( def. 6 ), copying ph- of phone ¹

Example Sentences

Everyone is his own cognitive hacker, his own potential phone phreak.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2017

Schoolsky, better known as Johnny Bagel in Los Angeles phone phreak circles, had been introduced to the hobby by L.A. phreak Al Diamond and his telephone joke lines.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2013

But the phone phreak prank that generated the most publicity and consternation occurred on November 10, 1974.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2013

The original granddaddy phone phreak was this blind kid with perfect pitch, Joe Engressia, who used to whistle into the phone.

From Slate • Oct. 7, 2011

“The captain” was Cap’n Crunch, and “the whistle” was the famous toy plastic whistle of phone phreak lore.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline