frog

[frog, frawg]

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noun

any tailless, stout-bodied amphibian of the order Anura, including the smooth, moist-skinned frog species that live in a damp or semiaquatic habitat and the warty, drier-skinned toad species that are mostly terrestrial as adults.

Also called true frog, ranid. any frog of the widespread family Ranidae, most members of which are semiaquatic and have smooth, moist skin and relatively long hind legs used for leaping.Compare toad(def 2).

a slight hoarseness, usually caused by mucus on the vocal cords: a frog in the throat.

(often initial capital letter) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a French person or a person of French descent.

a small holder made of heavy material, placed in a bowl or vase to hold flower stems in position.

a recessed panel on one of the larger faces of a brick or the like.

Music. nut(def 11b).

verb (used without object), frogged, frog·ging.

to hunt and catch frogs.

adjective

(often initial capital letter) Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. French or Frenchlike.

Origin of frog

before 1000; Middle English frogge, Old English frogga, frocga; compare dial., Middle English frosh, Old Norse froskr, Old High German frosk (German Frosch); defs 5, 6 of unclear derivation

Related formsfrog·like, adjective

Can be confusedfrog toad

Usage note

The use of the word frog to mean “a French person” is a slur that arose because the French were stereotypically thought of as eating frogs.

frog

[frog, frawg]

noun

an ornamental fastening for the front of a coat, consisting of a button and a loop through which it passes.

a sheath suspended from a belt and supporting a scabbard.

Origin of frog

1710–20; perhaps < Portuguese froco < Latin floccus flock²

frog

[frog, frawg]

noun

Railroads. a device at the intersection of two tracks to permit the wheels and flanges on one track to cross or branch from the other.

Origin of frog

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; of uncertain origin

frog

⁴

[frog, frawg]

noun Zoology.

a triangular mass of elastic, horny substance in the middle of the sole of the foot of a horse or related animal.

Origin of frog

⁴

1600–10; compare earlier frush in same sense (probably < French fourchette fourchette); presumably identified with dial. frosh frog, hence with frog¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for frog

toad, bullfrog, croaker, caecilian, polliwog

Examples from the Web for frog

Contemporary Examples of frog

In March, Kermit the Frog appeared with First Lady Michelle Obama at an event for military families at the White House.
Muppets, Superheroes And The Politicians Who Love Them
Ben Jacobs
May 22, 2014
Over the years, Miss Piggy has been faulted for her clingy, seemingly obsessive relationship with Kermit the Frog.
Miss Piggy Leans In
Erin Cunningham
March 23, 2014
But selections aren't limited to just Franzia and Frog Eye anymore.
Taking Boxed Wine Seriously: It’s Not Just for Hobos and Teenagers Anymore
Jordan Salcito
March 15, 2014
As night fell and the frog and cricket symphony geared up for a stellar performance, we mapped out a plausible plan.
My Island Vacation Exploring the Blissfully Quirky Grenadines
Condé Nast Traveler
September 6, 2013
From Bill Clinton Kermit the Frog, Kevin Fallon judges the best and worst “Blurred Lines” viral videos.
‘Blurred Lines’ Goes Viral: Rating 15 Mash-ups, Parodies & Covers (VIDEO)
Kevin Fallon
July 25, 2013

Historical Examples of frog

Why should not a frog sustain life with his Pants as well as a Christian?
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 8, May 21, 1870
Various
The frog is a diligent songster, having a good voice but no ear.
The Devil's Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
The frog's eyes stand out of his head because he is staring at heaven.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
For everybody knows, or thinks he knows, how the frog lost his tail.
Life: Its True Genesis
R. W. Wright
“Frog was the strongest dog of the bunch,” Bill pronounced finally.
White Fang
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for frog

frog

noun

any insectivorous anuran amphibian of the family Ranidae, such as Rana temporaria of Europe, having a short squat tailless body with a moist smooth skin and very long hind legs specialized for hopping

any of various similar amphibians of related families, such as the tree frogRelated adjective: batrachian

any spiked or perforated object used to support plant stems in a flower arrangement

a recess in a brick to reduce its weight

a frog in one's throat phlegm on the vocal cords that affects one's speech

verb frogs, frogging or frogged

(intr) to hunt or catch frogs

Word Origin for frog

Old English frogga; related to Old Norse froskr, Old High German forsk

frog

noun

(often plural) a decorative fastening of looped braid or cord, as on the front of a 19th-century military uniform

a loop or other attachment on a belt to hold the scabbard of a sword, etc

music, US and Canadian

the ledge or ridge at the upper end of the fingerboard of a violin, cello, etc, over which the strings pass to the tuning pegs
the end of a violin bow that is held by the playerAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): nut

Word Origin for frog

C18: perhaps ultimately from Latin floccus tuft of hair, flock ²

frog

noun

a tough elastic horny material in the centre of the sole of a horse's foot

Word Origin for frog

C17: of uncertain origin

frog

⁴

noun

a grooved plate of iron or steel placed to guide train wheels over an intersection of railway lines

Word Origin for frog

C19: of uncertain origin; perhaps a special use of frog 1

Frog

Froggy (ˈfrɒɡɪ)

noun plural Frogs or Froggies

a derogatory word for a French person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for frog

n.1

Old English frogga, a diminutive of frox, forsc, frosc "frog," from Proto-Germanic *fruska-z (cf. Old Norse froskr, Middle Dutch vorsc, German Frosch "frog"), probably literally "hopper," from PIE root *preu- "to hop" (cf. Sanskrit provate "hops," Russian prygat "to hop, jump").

The Latin word (rana) is imitative of croaking. Collateral Middle English forms frude, froud are from Old Norse frauðr "frog," and frosk "frog" survived in English dialects into the 19c.

I always eat fricasseed frogs regretfully; they remind one so much of miniature human thighs, and make one feel cannibalistic and horrid .... [H. Ellen Brown, "A Girl's Wanderings in Hungary," 1896]

As a derogatory term for "Frenchman," 1778 (short for frog-eater), but before that (1650s) it meant "Dutch" (from frog-land "marshy land"). To have a frog in the throat "be hoarse" is from 1892, from the "croaking" sound.

n.2

fastening for clothing, 1719, originally a belt loop for carrying a weapon, of unknown origin; perhaps from Portuguese froco, from Latin floccus "flock of wool."