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frazzle

verb, noun — 5 senses

frazzle

verb

/ˈfɹæz(ə)l/

Etymology Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).

1

To fray or wear down, especially at the edges.

  • The new puppy has been chewing on everything, and my favorite afghan has become frazzled.
  • Frazle, to unravel or rend cloth. Frazlings, threads of cloth, torn or unravelled.a. 1825, Forby, Voc. E. Anglia:
2 more examples
  • One’s garments get frazzled in the grass; one’s mind and body and spiritual sense sometimes become frazzled, torn to pieces, good-for-nothing.1893 December, The American Missionary, New York: American Missionary Association, page 418:
  • Her hair was of a reddish-gray color, and its frazzled and tangled condition suggested that the woman had recently passed through a period of extreme excitement.1887, Joel Chandler Harris, Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches:
2

To drain emotionally or physically.

  • After dealing with the children all day, I just can’t help feeling frazzled.
  • One’s garments get frazzled in the grass; one’s mind and body and spiritual sense sometimes become frazzled, torn to pieces, good-for-nothing.1893 December, The American Missionary, New York: American Missionary Association, page 418:
Derived terms
frazzled, frazzlement, frazzlings

frazzle

noun

Etymology Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).

1

Informal A burnt fragment; a cinder or crisp.

  • The bacon was burned to a frazzle.
2

Informal The condition or quality of being frazzled; a frayed end.

  • 1886–90, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History Gordon had sent word to Lee that he had fought his corps to a frazzle
  • Two years ago his nerves were worn to a frazzle over an attempt made to levy a tax.1894 January 2nd, The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus:
2 more examples
  • My fingers are all cut to frazzles..1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous (Chapter III)
  • The little girl, a little dancing imp with a frazzle of flying red hair and red-brown eyes.1908, Alice MacGowan, Judith of the Cumberlands, page 29:
3

A messy situation or scene.

  • It ends with a splendid phone conversation between Robin and her mother. Robin (Laura Luz) is a frazzle of choreographed energy as her explanations are obviously leading to more trouble.1980 December 20, Stewart Landers, “Triangle Produces Good Gay Theater”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 22, page 14:
  • This is getting to be a real frazzle. We've had more odd characters running around here since that girl moved in than I have the patience to deal with2006, Mark Coggins, The Immortal Game, Big Earth Publishing, →ISBN, page 19:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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