▪ I. frosh1, frosk Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 1 frox, forsc, 3–4 frosse, 3–5 frosk(e, 3, 5–6 frosche, 4–5 frossh(e, 5–7 frosh, 8–9 dial. frosk. pl. 3 frosse.
[See frog n.1]
A frog.
| c 1000 ælfric Exod. viii. 4 To þe and to þinum folce and in to eallum þinum þeowum gað þa froxas. a 1240 Sawles Warde in Cott. Hom. 251 Neddren ant eauraskes [v. rr. eaureskes, eafroskes]. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2969 Ðo cam ðor up swilc froskes here ðe ðede al folc egipte dere. a 1300 Cursor M. 5928 Þat toþer on-com þat him fell Was frosse þat na tung moght tell. 1382 Wyclif Ps. lxxvii. 45 He sente in..a frogge [v.r. frosshe], and it destroȝede them. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1081 His frount and his forheuede, alle was it ouer, As the felle of a froske. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 37 The frosshis..complayned that they had none lorde. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. xv. (1593) 356 The mud hath in it certaine seed whereof greene froshes rise. 1674–91 Ray N.C. Words (E.D.S.), Frosh, a frog. 1690 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 288 It is order'd in Councel y{supt} no allowance be given him to slutch y⊇ frosse lake. 1781 Hutton Tour to Caves Gloss., Frosk. 1821 Mrs. Wheeler Cumbld. Dial. App. 7 Thou cuddent tell me be a frosk, at hed been hung up beeth heels ith' sunshine, an dryt to deeth. 1869 Lonsdale Gloss., Frosg, Frosk. 1873 Swaledale Gloss., Frosk. |
▪ II. frosh2 N. Amer. slang.
(frɒʃ)
Also † frosch.
[Modified shortening of freshman, perh. under influence of Ger. frosch frog, (dial.) grammar-school pupil.]
A college freshman; a member of a freshman sports team. Also freshmen collect., and attrib.
| 1915 Univ. Oklahoman 29 Oct. 1/5 Some of the more advanced among the Frosch are holding out for ‘Back to Nature’ garb. 1915 Dialect Notes IV. 236 Frosh, freshman. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §636/32 Member of freshman team, frosh, papoose, peagreener, yearling. 1947 Chicago Daily News 29 Nov. 3/1 Dr. Snyder followed her dutifully, after donning the frosh cap she had brought for him. 1973 Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 22 Aug. 57 The 6-4, 205-pound frosh split end came up with a knee injury. 1985 Univ. Waterloo (Ontario) Gaz. 11 Sept. 5 (heading) Wright gives frosh audience views on funding. Ibid. 5/1 ‘A university is a very special kind of place,’ Wright told the 2,000 frosh. |