phreak

[ freek ]

noun

Slang.

1. phone phreak.

verb (used without object)

phreaked, phreaking.

1. to act as a phone phreak.

verb (used with object)

phreaked, phreaking.

1. to tamper with (telephones) as a phone phreak does. Compare spoof ( def 6 ), phish.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phreak¹

First recorded in 1970–75; altered spelling of freak ¹( def 6 ), copying ph- of phone ¹

Example Sentences

“The captain” was Cap’n Crunch, and “the whistle” was the famous toy plastic whistle of phone phreak lore.

From Literature

Everyone is his own cognitive hacker, his own potential phone phreak.

From New York Times

Woz adopted the phone phreak handle “Berkeley Blue” while Jobs became “Oaf Tobar.”

From Salon

But the phone phreak prank that generated the most publicity and consternation occurred on November 10, 1974.

From Salon

At some point the remote tandem would route a call back to the phone phreak, who could then prank the hapless caller.

From Salon