frock
[frok]
- a gown or dress worn by a girl or woman.
- a loose outer garment worn by peasants and workers; smock.
- a coarse outer garment with large sleeves, worn by monks.
- frock coat.
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- to provide with, or clothe in, a frock.
- to invest with priestly or clerical office.
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Origin of frock
1300–50; Middle English froke < Old French froc < Frankish; compare Old Saxon, Old High German hroc coat
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for frock
Contemporary Examples
Only at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 could a guy with a beard wearing a frock cause such ructions.
Even Amy Adams donned a vintage version of the frock in American Hustle.
This time, Knightley updated the frock with embellished sleeves.
It is Coddington who tutors the audience on the authentic, creative satisfaction that can be found within the frock trade.
Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington’s Memoir Offers Few RevelationsRobin Givhan
November 20, 2012
It was a short A-line frock that covered her arms, and she paired it with a veil and a floral crown.
Historical Examples
What instinct made you choose that shade of pale green for your frock?
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
I wiped his eyes with his frock, told him he was all right and called Sancho to pacify him.
The Tenant of Wildfell HallAnne Bronte
The evening clothes were irreproachable; so were the frock coat and a morning suit.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
“Go and change your frock before you tell me anything,” she said decidedly.
The Law-BreakersRidgwell Cullum
Coupeau and Lorilleux, in frock coats and with their hats in their hands, were chief mourners.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
frock
- a girl's or woman's dress
- a loose garment of several types, such as a peasant's smock
- a coarse wide-sleeved outer garment worn by members of some religious orders
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- (tr) to invest (a person) with the office or status of a cleric
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French froc; related to Old Saxon, Old High German hroc coat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for frock
n.
mid-14c., from Old French froc "a monk's habit" (12c.), of unknown origin; perhaps from Frankish *hrok or some other Germanic source (cf. Old High German hroc "mantle, coat;" Old Norse rokkr, Old English rocc, Old Frisian rokk, German Rock "coat"), from PIE root *rug- "to spin."
Another theory traces it to Medieval Latin floccus, from Latin floccus "flock of wool." Meaning "outer garment for women or children" is from 1530s. Frock-coat attested by 1823.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper