frisk

[frisk] /frɪsk/
verb (used without object)
1.
to dance, leap, skip, or gambol; frolic:
The dogs and children frisked about on the lawn.
verb (used with object)
2.
to search (a person) for concealed weapons, contraband goods, etc., by feeling the person's clothing:
The police frisked both of the suspects.
noun
3.
a leap, skip, or caper.
4.
a frolic or gambol.
5.
the act of frisking a person.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English, as adj. < Middle French frisque, perhaps a spelling variant (with mute s) of fri(c)que lively, smart < Germanic (compare Middle Dutch vrec, Old High German freh avaricious, Middle High German vrech brave, German frech insolent); or < Middle French (Flanders) frisque < Middle Dutch frisc fresh
Related forms
frisker, noun
friskingly, adverb
unfrisking, adjective
Examples from the web for frisk
  • Often the police will frisk them anyway, and search their cars as well.
  • The law enforcement justification for a pat-down search or protective frisk is officer safety.
  • The justification for a pat-down search or protective frisk is officer safety.
  • Cats sleep by the fire or frisk across the leaves of many a romance.
  • Catching addicts is easy: if the police frisk enough people in druggy areas, they are sure to find a crack vial or two.
  • We address the question whether the stop and frisk violated the standards in effect in our state.
  • So was a weapons frisk after the driver fled and jettisoned marijuana.
British Dictionary definitions for frisk

frisk

/frɪsk/
verb
1.
(intransitive) to leap, move about, or act in a playful manner; frolic
2.
(transitive) (esp of animals) to whisk or wave briskly: the dog frisked its tail
3.
(transitive)
  1. to search (someone) by feeling for concealed weapons, etc
  2. to rob by searching in this way
noun
4.
a playful antic or movement; frolic
5.
the act or an instance of frisking a person
Derived Forms
frisker, noun
friskingly, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Old French frisque, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German frisc lively, fresh
Word Origin and History for frisk
v.

1510s, "to dance, frolic," from Middle English frisk "lively" (mid-15c.), from Middle French frisque "lively, brisk," from Old French frisque "fresh, new; merry, animated" (13c.), possibly from a Germanic source (cf. Middle Dutch vrisch "fresh," Old High German frisc "lively;" see fresh (adj.1)). Sense of "pat down in a search" first recorded 1781. Related: Frisked; frisking. As a noun from 1520s.

Slang definitions & phrases for frisk

frisk

noun

: They did a quick frisk and let him go

verb
  1. (also frisk down) To search, esp for firearms or contraband, by patting or rubbing the person in places where these might be concealed: Raise your hands high, frisk him/ without getting taken-off, frisked-down or punched-out
  2. To inspect a building, apartment, etc, for evidence or loot: Let's go up and frisk the apartment (1781+)