subs. (common).—A complete failure. Cf., Fr., un four noir. Also un temps noir = a blank interval; a prolonged silence (as when an actor’s memory fails him).

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  1885.  The Saturday Review, 15 Aug., p. 218. He is an absolute and perfect FROST.

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  1885.  Bell’s 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.

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  1889.  Star, 17 Jan. The pantomime was a dead FROST.

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  2.  (common).—A dearth of work; TO HAVE A FROST = to be idle.

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