adj. (colloquial).—Cross-grained; old-fashioned and severe in dress, manners, morals, and notions; ill-natured; given to frumps. Also FRUMPY.
1589. GREENE, Tullies Love, in wks. vii., 131. Who were you but as fauourable, as you are FRUMPISH, would soone censure by my talke, how deepe I am reade in loues principles.
1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Harry Wildair, Act. V., Sc. 5. She got, I don’t know how, a crotchet of jealousy in her head. This made her FRUMPISH, but we had ne’er an angry word.
1757. FOOTE, The Author, Act II. And methought she looked very FRUMPISH and jealous.
1764. O’HARA, Midas, I., 3. Nys. and Daph. La! mother, why so FRUMPISH?
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. I., ch. xi. ‘Don’t fancy me a FRUMPY old married woman, my dear; I was married but the other day, you know.’
1889. Modern Society, 12 Oct., p. 1271, col. 2. Quite an elderly and superannuated look is given to the toilette which is finished off by a woollen cloud or silken shawl, and only invalids and sixty-year-old women should be allowed such FRUMPISH privileges.
