I. ˈfril verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps from Flemish frullen, from frul, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to provide or decorate with a frill
frill a cap
: crimp or pleat an edge of
b. : to serve as a frill for
if you look up … you see that clouds frill the sky — Leo Sinden
2. Australia : to ring (a tree) with a frill : frill-bark
intransitive verb
of a photographic emulsion : to wrinkle and loosen from the film or plate support
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps from Flemish frul
1. : an ornamental flared or ruffled edge: as
a. : a gathered, pleated, or bias-cut fabric edging used on clothing
b. : a strip of paper curled at one end and rolled to be slipped over the bone end (as of a chop) in serving
2. : something resembling a frill
a frill of white beard edging his face — Victoria Sackville-West
as:
a. : a fold of hair or feathers about the neck of an animal
b. : an architectural ornamental trimming
gables decorated with jigsaw frills — American Guide Series: Tennessee
varicolored houses often ornamented with little baroque frills in white — Christopher Rand
c. : affectation , air — usually used in plural
an honest, just, ever generous man who had no frills, no side, no nonsense about him — W.A.White
d. : something that has only decorative significance and can be dispensed with : something refined, tasty, or elegant but insubstantial : something not essential : superfluity , extravagance , dainty , delicacy , luxury
the elimination of typographic frills and unnecessary elaboration — Linotype News
one man's fundamentals may be another man's frills — Bice Clemow
detestation of anything resembling frills and fancies in food and drink and clothing
3. Australia : a border made by forcing back a narrow strip of bark below a groove cut around the trunk of a tree
4. often capitalized : a canary of a domestic variety marked by frilled and curled feathers