frog

¹ American  

[frog, frawg] / frɒg, frɔg /

noun

1. 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.

2. Also called true frog,.  Also called 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.

3. a slight hoarseness, usually caused by mucus on the vocal cords.

   a frog in the throat.

4. (often initial capital letter)  a contemptuous term used to refer to a French person or a person of French descent.

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

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

7. Music.  nut.

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verb (used without object)

frogged, frogging

1. to hunt and catch frogs.

adjective

1. (often initial capital letter)  French or Frenchlike.

frog ² American  

[frog, frawg] / frɒg, frɔg /

noun

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

2. a sheath suspended from a belt and supporting a scabbard.

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frog ³ American  

[frog, frawg] / frɒg, frɔg /

noun

1. 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.

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frog ⁴ American  

[frog, frawg] / frɒg, frɔg /

noun

Zoology.

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

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frog ¹ British  

/ frɒɡ /

noun

1. 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

2. any of various similar amphibians of related families, such as the tree frog

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

4. a recess in a brick to reduce its weight

5. phlegm on the vocal cords that affects one's speech

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verb

1. (intr) to hunt or catch frogs

frog ² British  

/ frɒɡ /

noun

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

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

3. music

   1. 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

   2. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): nut.  the end of a violin bow that is held by the player

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Frog ³ British  

/ frɒɡ, ˈfrɒɡɪ /

noun

1. a derogatory word for a French person

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frog ⁴ British  

/ frɒɡ /

noun

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

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frog ⁵ British  

/ frɒɡ /

noun

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

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Sensitive 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.

Other Word Forms

• froglike adjective

Etymology

Origin of frog¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English frogge, Old English frogga, frocga; compare dialectal Middle English frosh, Old Norse froskr, Old High German frosk ( German Frosch ); frog ¹ defs. 5, 6 of unclear derivation

Origin of frog²

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps from Portuguese froco, from Latin floccus “tuft of wool”; flock ²

Origin of frog³

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

Origin of frog⁴

First recorded in 1600–10; compare earlier frush in same sense, probably from French fourchette “fork” ( fourchette ); presumably identified with dialectal frosh “frog,” hence with frog ¹

Example Sentences

After the speakers and musical performances wrapped, the Miss Piggies and the inflatable eagles, polar bears, frogs, sharks, foxes and at least one Cookie Monster lined up behind the Handmaids and began to march.

From Salon

“Like the proverbial frog that doesn’t feel the water becoming increasingly hotter, many North American brands are inching into more treacherous positions with their customers’ loyalty,” Forrester Principal Analyst Pete Jacques wrote in the report.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are snakes that shrink their intestines and rebuild their hearts, frogs that freeze and fungi that harness radiation.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, other protestors pointed to the environmental impact of losing the park as deer, hedgehogs, frogs and other animals are often spotted on the land.

From BBC

By this point, the Baileys have either become Republicans or started donning frog costumes at their local No Kings protest.

From The Wall Street Journal

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