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frisk

(frĭsk)

v. frisked, frisk·ing, frisks

v.tr.

To search (a person) for something concealed, especially a weapon, by passing the hands quickly over clothes or through pockets.

v.intr.

To move about briskly and playfully; frolic.

1. The act of frisking someone.

2. An energetic, playful movement; a gambol.

[From Middle English frisk, lively, from Old French frisque, of Germanic origin.]

frisker n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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