frog
Any of a class of small tailless amphibians of the order Anura that typically hop.
Noun
- Any of a class of small tailless amphibians of the order Anura that typically hop.
- Awesome leather armbands with spikes like two feet long / Hair is parted down the middle, frowning like a frog - 2008, Tom Martin, “Black Metal Sucks” (0:26 from the start), in Toxic Zombie Onslaught, performed by Lich...
- The part of a violin bow (or that of other similar string instruments such as the viola, cello and contrabass) located at the end held by the player, to which the horsehair is attached.
- Synonym of road; clipping of less common frog and toad.
Synonyms: road
- The depression in the upper face of a pressed or handmade clay brick.
- An organ on the bottom of a horse’s hoof that assists in the circulation of blood.
Coordinate Terms: sole
- The part of a railway switch or turnout where the running rails cross (from the resemblance to the frog in a horse’s hoof).
Synonyms: common crossing
- The part of a railroad overhead wire used to redirect a trolley pole from one wire to another at switches.
- A type of fishing lure that resembles a frog.
- `What you need are frogs,' said the veteran. `Fish them at night. There's nothing like them on big cork floats.' - 1983, The Fisherman Who Laughed, page 40:
- Defector: politician who switches to a different political party.
Origin
From Middle English frogge, from Old English frocga, from Proto-West Germanic *froggō (“frog”). Cognate with Old Norse frauki, and Old English frox, frosc, whence Modern English frosh and frosk (“frog”). Possibly related to Saterland Frisian Poage (“frog”), German Low German Pogg, Pogge (“frog”). Sense 5 (organ on a horse's hoof) is a calque of Ancient Greek βάτραχος (bátrakhos).
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Frog frogdom frogese frogess frogged frogger froggery frogging froggish froggo froggy Froggy froghood frogitis frogkind Frogland frogless froglike frogling frogly frogness Frog-speak African clawed frog African painted frog
Noun Entry 2
- A leather or fabric loop used to attach a sword or bayonet, or its scabbard, to a waist or shoulder belt.
- An ornate fastener for clothing consisting of an oblong button, toggle, or knot, that fits through a loop.
- The visitor was about fifty-two years of age, dressed in one of the green surtouts, ornamented with black frogs, which have so long maintained their popularity all over Europe. - 1844, Alexander Dumas, The Count of...
- A device used to secure stems in a floral arrangement, also called a flower frog or kenzan.
Origin
Unknown. Possibly borrowed from Portuguese froco (“flock”), from Latin floccus (“flock”).
Forms
Noun derogatory, ethnic
- A French person.
- Yes. Can't trust the frogs. - 1982 November 18, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “The Challenge”, in Yes, Minister, season 3, episode 2, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne):
Synonyms: baguette cheese-eating surrender monkey Frencher Frenchy
- A French-speaking person from Quebec.
Origin
From frog legs, stereotypical food of the French. Compare Kraut (“German person”) and French rosbif (“English person”) (from roast beef), with similar food etymologies.
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Verb Entry 4
- To hunt or trap frogs.
- To use a pronged plater to transfer (cells) to another plate.
- To spatchcock (a chicken).
- To lie sprawled out like a frog; sploot.
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Verb Entry 5
- To ornament or fasten a coat, etc. with frogs.
Forms
Verb Entry 6
- To unravel part of (a knitted garment), either to correct a mistake or to reclaim the thread or yarn.
Origin
Supposedly from ribbit (“sound made by a frog”) sounding similar to “rip it”.
Forms
Verb ambitransitive, mildly
- To have sex with; fuck.
- If you see a necktie hanging on the door, don't knock. I'll be in there frogging someone.
Origin
Probably a minced oath alteration of fuck.