I. ˈfrisk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: obsolete frisk, adjective, lively, brisk, from Middle English, from Middle French frisque, frique, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German frisc fresh, lively — more at fresh
intransitive verb
: to leap, skip, dance, or gambol especially in frolic : move briskly and sportively or playfully
the innocent voices laughing in the evening, the dogs frisking — T.H.White b.1915
filling in the time … by frisking about — T.B.Costain
transitive verb
1. : to move in a frisking manner
a milk-cart pony rattles down the street, frisking his mane — Times Literary Supplement
frisking about the hem of her skirt — T.B.Costain
2.
a. : to search or go through especially for concealed weapons or stolen articles
they'd used this fake bell boy to frisk my coat while I was washing — Erle Stanley Gardner
frisking the ladies' cabins in their absence — New Yorker
especially : to search (a person) for such purpose usually by running the hand rapidly over the clothing and through the pockets
I went behind him and frisked him carefully — Hartley Howard
b. : to take or steal from especially by such frisking
a certain soldier was frisked of $800 when boarding the train for home — Dixon Wecter
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. archaic : caracole , caper , jig
b. : a frolicking movement : gambol , romp
in a few minutes … she was exploring the yard with frisks of pleasure — Mary Mian
c. : a gay time : frolic , diversion
so come … it will be a frisk that will do you good — Mary W. Shelley
2. : a frisking especially for concealed weapons or stolen articles
a quick frisk of the coats in the coatroom of the hall — W.L.Gresham