English
frig
Frig comes from Middle English friggen ‘to quiver’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500friggen‘to quiver’
- Englishearliest quotation 1880frig
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500friggen‘to quiver’
- Englishearliest quotation 1880frig
Earliest quotation: 1880, anonymous author: “There was an old parson of Lundy, Fell asleep…”
The story
From Middle English friggen (‘to quiver’), perhaps from Old English *frygian (‘to rub, caress’), related to Old English frēogan, frīgan (‘to love, release, embrace, caress’), frīge (pl., “love”). Alternative etymology derives frig (Early Modern English frigge), from Middle English frikien (‘to keep (the arms and hands) in constant motion’), from Old English frician (‘to dance’).
Every English word from Middle English friggen
Today it means
verb To masturbate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English friggen / frig