frog 1
— froglike , adj.
/frog, frawg/ , n. , v. , frogged, frogging , adj.
n.
1. any tailless, stout-bodied amphibian of the order Anura, including the smooth, moist-skinned frog species that live in a damp or semiaquatic habitat and the warty, drier-skinned toad species that are mostly terrestrial as adults.
2. Also called true frog, ranid . any frog of the widespread family Ranidae, most members of which are semiaquatic and have smooth, moist skin and relatively long hind legs used for leaping. Cf. toad (def. 2).
3. a slight hoarseness, usually caused by mucus on the vocal cords: a frog in the throat.
4. ( often cap. ) Slang ( disparaging and offensive ). a French person or a person of French descent.
5. a small holder made of heavy material, placed in a bowl or vase to hold flower stems in position.
6. a recessed panel on one of the larger faces of a brick or the like.
7. Music. nut (def. 11b).
v.i.
8. to hunt and catch frogs.
adj.
9. ( often cap. ) Slang ( disparaging and offensive ). French or Frenchlike.
[ bef. 1000; ME frogge, OE frogga, frocga; cf. dial., ME frosh, ON froskr, OHG frosk (G Frosch ); (defs. 4, 9) because Frenchmen were stereotypically thought of as eating frogs; (defs. 5, 6) of unclear derivation and perh. of distinct orig. ]
frog 2
/frog, frawg/ , n.
1. an ornamental fastening for the front of a coat, consisting of a button and a loop through which it passes.
2. a sheath suspended from a belt and supporting a scabbard.
[ 1710-20; perh.
froco floccus FLOCK 2 ]
frog 3
/frog, frawg/ , n.
Railroads. a device at the intersection of two tracks to permit the wheels and flanges on one track to cross or branch from the other.
[ 1840-50, Amer.; of uncert. orig. ]
frog 4
/frog, frawg/ , n. Zool.
a triangular mass of elastic, horny substance in the middle of the sole of the foot of a horse or related animal.
[ 1600-10; cf. earlier frush in same sense (prob. fourchette FOURCHETTE); presumably identified with dial. frosh frog, hence with FROG 1 ]