frump

[ fruhmp ]

/ frʌmp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR frump ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who is dowdy, drab, and unattractive.

a dull, old-fashioned person.

RELATED WORDS

slattern, schlump

Nearby words

Origin of frump

First recorded in 1545–55; origin uncertain

Related formsfrump·ish, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for frump

The looking-glass had bitter things to tell me, and crying makes me such a frump.
A Man in the Open|Roger Pocock
I think the frump—this Miss Kirkland, you know—is a fright—regular freak, dash it!
The Haunted Pajamas|Francis Perry Elliott
Mrs. Frump drew out a little memorandum book from one of her pockets, and consulted.
Round the Block|John Bell Bouton
For the frump was sitting there behind the steering wheel, looking down at me in a nasty, sidewise fashion.
The Haunted Pajamas|Francis Perry Elliott

The frump kind of glared down the deserted vista of the fine old hall and shrugged her shoulders.
The Haunted Pajamas|Francis Perry Elliott

British Dictionary definitions for frump

frump

/ (frʌmp) /

noun

a woman who is dowdy, drab, or unattractive

Word Origin for frump

C16 (in the sense: to be sullen; C19: dowdy woman): from Middle Dutch verrompelen to wrinkle, rumple

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 frump

frump

"cross, unstylish person" 1817, perhaps from frumple (v.) "to wrinkle" (late 14c.), from Middle Dutch verrompelen "to wrinkle" (see frumpy).