frill

[fril]

noun

1. a trimming, as a strip of cloth or lace, gathered at one edge and left loose at the other; ruffle.

2. something resembling such a trimming, as the fringe of hair on the chest of some dogs.

3. affectation of manner, style, etc.

4. something superfluous.

5. Photography.,  wrinkling or loosening of an emulsion at the edges, usually due to excessively high temperature during developing.

verb (used with object)

1. to trim or ornament with a frill or frills.

2. to form into a frill.

verb (used without object)

1. Photography.,  (of an emulsion) to become wrinkled or loose.

frill

/ frɪl /

noun

1. a gathered, ruched, or pleated strip of cloth sewn on at one edge only, as on garments, as ornament, or to give extra body

2. a ruff of hair or feathers around the neck of a dog or bird or a fold of skin around the neck of a reptile or amphibian

3. Full name: oriental frill. (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon having a ruff of curled feathers on the chest and crop

4. photog a wrinkling or loosening of the emulsion at the edges of a negative or print

5. informal,  (often plural) a superfluous or pretentious thing or manner; affectation

   he made a plain speech with no frills

verb

1. (tr) to adorn or fit with a frill or frills

2. to form into a frill or frills

3. (intr) photog (of an emulsion) to develop a frill

Other Word Forms

• friller noun
• unfrill verb (used with object)
• frilliness noun
• frilly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frill¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of frill¹

C14: perhaps of Flemish origin

Example Sentences

It promised that the scorched frill at the bottom of a skillet was not failure, but the start of a sauce.

From Salon

Two kinds of beef: chuck and sirloin, each cut into tidy cubes, no frills.

From Salon

Measuring about five metres long and weighing two tonnes, the four-legged beasts had large heads, adorned with a distinctive bony frill and three horns.

From BBC

No tricks, no frills: just a really, really good roast chicken.

From Salon

“Presence” does away with all of those unnecessary frills found in contemporary horror, leaving one unusual, but very simple, stylistic device in their place: The camera is the ghost.

From Salon