English
frizz
Frizz comes from Middle English frysen, and goes back to Old French friser.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400friser
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500frysen
- Englishearliest quotation 1660frizz
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400friser
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500frysen
- Englishearliest quotation 1660frizz
Earliest quotation: 1660, November 22nd, 1660: “with her hair frized short up to her ears”.
Linked words
through Proto-Germanic *frisaz ‘frizzy, curly’
Another origin of frizz
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fryse
- Englishtodayfrizz
Today it means
verb Of hair, to form into a mass of tight curls.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French friser / frizz