US /ˈfrɪl/ UK /fɹɪl/
noun Freq #80967

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a narrow strip of gathered or pleated fabric used as a decorative edge

    A white lace frill edged the collar of the dress.

  2. 2
    noun

    a projecting border of feathers, hair, skin, or bone around an animal's neck or head

    The lizard raised its colorful neck frill when threatened.

  3. 3
    noun

    an unnecessary decorative feature or luxury; often plural

    The basic plan provides reliable service without expensive frills.

  4. 4
    noun

    a bony plate extending behind the skull of a ceratopsian dinosaur

    The fossil preserves most of the animal's broad skull frill.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a narrow strip of gathered... ruffleflounce
2 noun · a projecting border of... ruff
3 noun · an unnecessary decorative... extraornamentembellishment
4 noun · a bony plate extending... cranial frill
More trim
Word family
Forms frillingfrillingsfrills
Derived forms frillyfrilllessno-frillsfrillback
Related forms jabotruffflounce

Etymology

Recorded in sixteenth-century English and probably related to Old French friller 'to shiver or tremble.' The link may be the rippling or trembling movement of a gathered edge, though the word's ultimate origin is uncertain.

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.