subs. (common).A complete failure. Cf., Fr., un four noir. Also un temps noir = a blank interval; a prolonged silence (as when an actors memory fails him).
1885. The Saturday Review, 15 Aug., p. 218. He is an absolute and perfect FROST.
1885. Bells Life, 3 Jan., p. 3, col. 6. We regret we cannot write favorably concerning this matter, the affair being almost as big a FROST athletically as it was financially.
1889. Star, 17 Jan. The pantomime was a dead FROST.
2. (common).A dearth of work; TO HAVE A FROST = to be idle.