subs. (old).—1. A frolic; an outing; a LARK (q.v.); mischief generally.
1697. VANBRUGH, The Provoked Wife, iii., 1. If you have a mind to take a FRISK with us, I have an interest with my lord; I can easily introduce you.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1825. C. M. WESTMACOTT, The English Spy, vi., p. 162. Dick’s a trump, and no telegraph—up to every FRISK, and down TO every move of the domini, thoroughbred and no want of courage.
1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. xx., p. 171. ‘When you and I had the FRISK down in Lincolnshire, Guppy, and drove over to see that house at Castle Wold.’
2. (old).—A dance.
1719. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy, i., 274.
| Let’s have a neat FRISK or so, | |
| And then rub on the law. |
1782. COWPER, Table Talk, 237.
| Give him his lass, his fiddle, and his FRISK, | |
| Is always happy, reign whoever may. |
1880. OUIDA, Moths, ch. xiv. And her fancy-dress FRISKS, and her musical breakfasts, were great successes.
Verb (thieves’).—1. To search; TO RUN THE RULE OVER (q.v.); especially applied to the search made, after arrest, for evidence of character, antecedents, or identity. Hence, careful examination of any kind.
1781. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 179. They FRISK him? That is search him. Ibid., p. 122. Putting a lap-feeder in our sack, that you or your blowen had prig’d yourselves, though we should stand the FRISK for it.
1828. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Living Picture of London, p. 69. The arms are seized from behind by one, whilst the other FRISKS the pockets of their contents.
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, ch. vii. Vel sare, the offisare ’ave FRISK me: he ’ave not found ze skin or ze dummy, eh?
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 21. ‘The knuck was copped to rights, a skin full of honey was found in his kick’s poke by the copper when he FRISKED him’; [i.e.] the pickpocket was arrested, and when searched by the officer a purse was found in his pantaloons pocket full of money.
2. (thieves’).—To pick pockets; to rob. To FRISK A CLY = to empty a pocket.
1848. E. Z. C. JUDSON (‘Ned Buntline’), The Mysteries and Miseries of New York, ch. iv. You’re as good a knuck as ever FRISKED a swell.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 13 June, p. 7, col. 3. The ragged little wretches who prowl in gangs about the suburbs, who crawl on their hands and knees into shops in order to ‘FRISK the till.’
TO DANCE THE PADDINGTON FRISK, verb. phr. (old).—To dance on nothing; i.e., to be hanged. [Tyburn Tree was in Paddington.] For synonyms, see LADDER.
