Frizz

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪz

From Middle English frysen, from Old French friser, frizer ("to frizzle, crisp, curl, ruffle, braid, touch lightly, graze, scratch"), of origin, perhaps via Old Frankish *fris ("curl"), from Proto-Germanic *frisaz ("frizzy, curly"). Cognate with Old Frisian frisle, frēsle

North Frisian friessle, fressle ("hair, horse's tail"), West Frisian frisseljen ("braid of hair, braid")}, Old English frīs ("crisped, curled").

Full definition of frizz

Verb

1. (intransitive) Of hair, to form into a mass of tight curls.
2. (transitive) To curl; to make frizzy.
• Samuel Pepyswith her hair frizzed short up to her ears
• John Betjeman, SloughIn labour-saving homes, with care,
  Their wives frizz out peroxide hair.
3. To form into little burs, knobs, or tufts, as the nap of cloth.
4. To make (leather) soft and of even thickness by rubbing, as with pumice stone or a blunt instrument.

Related terms

• friseur
• frizzle

From Middle English fryse, from the verb. See above.

Noun

1. A mass of tightly curled or unruly hair.