Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Frill

//fɹɪl// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A strip of pleated fabric or paper used as decoration or trim.

    "1777, Samuel Jackson Pratt (as Courtney Melmoth), Liberal Opinions, upon Animals, Man, and Providence, London: G. Robinson and J. Bew, Volume 5, Chapter 114, p. 163, […] one of her husband Jeffery’s shirts (with frills to the bosom) […]"

  2. 2
    ornamental objects of no great value wordnet
  3. 3
    A substance or material on the edge of something, resembling such a strip of fabric. figuratively

    "Nothing moved in sky, land, or sea, except a frill of milkwhite foam along the nearer angles of the shore, shreds of which licked the contiguous stones like tongues."

  4. 4
    a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim wordnet
  5. 5
    A wrinkled edge to a film.
Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal wordnet
  2. 7
    Something extraneous or not essential; something purely for show or effect; a luxury. figuratively

    "My name is Sammy Carleton. Not ‘Mr.’ Carleton, but just plain Sammy. I’m a regular no-nonsense man with no fancy frills about me. I want you to call me Sammy."

  3. 8
    (paleontology) a bony plate that curves upward behind the skull of many ceratopsian dinosaurs wordnet
  4. 9
    The relatively extensive margin seen on the back of the heads of reptiles, with either a bony support or a cartilaginous one.

    "A large admiral lizard leapt up on a rail, stood on hind legs with fore legs raised like hands and watched for a moment […], then loped down the cess-path with arms swinging and iridescent frill flying out like a cape […]"

  5. 10
    Synonym of armilla.
Verb
  1. 1
    To make into a frill. transitive
  2. 2
    To shake or shiver as with cold (with reference to a hawk). intransitive, obsolete
  3. 3
    To become wrinkled. intransitive
  4. 4
    To cry (with reference to a bird of prey). intransitive, obsolete

    "1688, Randle Holme, The Academy of Armory, Chester: for the author, Book 2, Chapter 13, “Of the Voices of Birds,” p. 310, The Eagle Frilleth, or Scriketh The Hawk, as Falcon, Gawshawk, and all such Birds of Prey, cryeth, peepeth, or frilleth."

  5. 5
    To provide or decorate with a frill or frills; to turn back in crimped plaits. transitive

    "And I will be bold to ſay my two girls have had a pretty good education, and capacity, [...] they underſtand their needle, breadſtitch, croſs and change, and all manner of plain-work; they can pink, point, and frill; [...]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin.

Etymology 2

Of uncertain origin.

Etymology 3

From Old French friller.

See also for "frill"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: frill