Also 6–7 friske, frysk(e, 7 frisque. [f. prec. adj.]
1. intr. Of living beings: To move briskly and sportively; to dance, frolic, gambol, jig. Also with about, away, in and out, off, and to frisk it.
1519. Interl. 4 Elem. (1848), 49. And I can fryske it freshly.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 34. Nymphs a thowsand do frisk with Princelye Diana.
1601. R. Johnson, Relations of the Most Famous Kingdoms, etc. (1603), 64. Sholes of fish frisking and playing hard under the wals of the citie.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 67.
| Pol. We were as twyn’d Lambs, that did frisk i’th’Sun, | |
| And bleat the one at th’other. |
1664. Power, Experimental Philosophy, I. 2–3. One would wonder at the great strength lodged in so small a Receptacle, and that he [the Flea] is not able onely to carry his whole armour about him, but will frisk and curvet so nimbly with it.
1679. E. Brown, Lett. to Blythe, in 2nd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. 114/2. The gallants are frisquing and making merry in Hyde Park.
c. 1704. Prior, Simile, 14. Those merry blades, That frisk it under Pindus’ shades.
1730. Fielding, Temple Beau, I. i. For your heart is like a coffee-house, where the beaus frisk in and out, one after another.
1764. Goldsm., The Traveller, 253.
| And the gay grandsire, skill’d in gestic lore, | |
| Has frisk’d beneath the burden of threescore. |
1785. Burns, To Jas. Smith, xv. Cold-pausing caution’s lessons scorning, We frisk away.
1821. J. W. Croker, Diary, 8 June. To-day he has frisked off to Windsor.
1891. Smiles, J. Murray, II. xxv. 177. He … rejoiced at seeing the children frisking about in the happiness of youth.
transf. and fig. 1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 9. Take a Glasse, and put Water into it, and wet your Finger, and draw it round about the Lip of the Glasse, pressing it somewhat hard; And after you haue drawne it some few times about; tt will make the Water friske and sprinkle vp, in a fine Dew.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1717), V. 492. The Proclamation of a Prince never frisks it in Tropes.
1779. A. Hamilton, Wks. (1886), VII. 586. Did I mean to show my wit?… Did I only intend to frisk?
1823. Lamb, Elia, Oxford in Vacation. The enfranchised quill … frisks and curvets … over the flowery carpet-ground of a midnight dissertation.
2. trans. a. To move (up, out, about, etc.) in a sportive or lively manner. b. To frisk away: to squander on freaks or caprices.
?16[?]. A Cap, etc. (N.). To frisk away much of thy time and estate.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 187. It would by frisking out of its tail … sink itself below the surface.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xvii. 140. A pair of Yarn Windles, which she … veered, and frisked about.
1862. R. H. Patterson, Ess. Hist. & Art, 109. The face of the Centaur is wreathed all over with merry laughter,—one of his arms is curved upwards in a joyous attitude, in the air,—two of the feet of the equine portion of the monster are lifted as if in motion,—and the tail is frisked up into the air in the liveliest manner possible.
† 3. To render sprightly, enliven. Obs.
1802. Fenton, Wks., 63. I look’d for sparkling lines, and something gay To frisk my fancy with.
4. slang. a. (See quot. 1812.) b. To hoax.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Frisk, to search; to frisk a cly is to empty a pocket of its contents; to stand frisk is to stand search.
1825. C. M. Westmacott, Eng. Spy, I. 150. Has Tom been frisking you already with some of his jokes?
