frostedadj.
/ˈfrɒstᵻd/, U.S. /ˈfrɔstəd/, /ˈfrɑstəd/ 1. Of a plant or plant part: damaged or killed by frost. Also of a person or part of the body: affected by frostbite. Cf. frostbitten adj. 1.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > skin disorders > [adjective] > frost-bite
frostbitten1530
frostbit1604
frosted1623
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [adjective] > made cold or cool > damaged by exposure to frost
frostbitten1530
frostnippeda1607
frosted1623
frostified1900
1623 G. Fletcher Reward of Faithfull 159 Does the Shepheard, the sun-burnt and frosted shepheard, watch ouer his flockes by night?
1795 Ann. Reg. 1791 186/2 The kernel of frosted oats..appears cloudy.
1867 I. I. Hayes Open Polar Sea xv. 207 He is laid up with a frosted foot which he got while hunting.
1884 E. P. Roe Nature's Serial Story vi. 41 Why does sudden heat..destroy a frosted plant?
1912 P. A. Amos Processes of Flour Manuf. vi. 38 The flour yield may be quite low at the finish owing possibly to thin, frosted, weevilled or immature..grain.
1995 N. P. Cheremisinoff Hazardous Chemicals in Polymer Industry ii. 55 In case of frostbite, thaw frosted parts with water.
2010 Cornish Guardian (Nexis) 27 Jan. 31 Frosted foliage may appear untidy to many non-gardeners but gardeners know that it helps protect undamaged plant tissue from further damage.
2. Of hair: white or grey; hoary. Cf. frosty adj. 5a.
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the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [adjective] > grey, hoary
grey1207
hoarc1290
frostya1450
forhoaredc1450
grizzled1458
hoary1530
hoared1557
greyish1567
wintry1579
silver1590
silveredc1600
silver-grey1607
frosted1628
iron-grey1809
iron-greyed1826
grizzly1843
1628 M. Mainwaring Vienna 25 La-noua hearing Sir Iaques worthy complaint, and seeing his frosted beard all bedewed with the teares of his sorrow, pittied his lament.
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. 64 'Twould trouble me, when I, with frosted hairs, Should look at what I was.
a1718 T. Parnell Posthumous Wks. (1758) 35 Helpless Age with hoary frosted head.
1791 H. Downman Poems to Thespia 75 Too soon old age steals on, whose frosted hair Forbids the genial blandishments to share.
1869 Harper's Mag. Nov. 831/1 A very old man with frosted head, who used to greet me each morning with a salaam of Oriental profundity.
1910 M. Schaff Battle of Wilderness i. 40 His originally deep chestnut, but now frosted hair, was soft.
2000 L. Woiwode What I think I Did 307 His huge weathered red face and frosted beard like Santa Claus.
3.
a. Esp. of silver: having a rough, matt, or unpolished surface. Also: engraved with frostwork (frostwork n. 1). Now somewhat rare.
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the world > space > shape > unevenness > [adjective] > rough > having a rough surface
frosted1642
grainish1653
granulated1677
granulate1793
ruckly1923
1642 J. Howell The Vote 2 Costly Boules of frosted argentry.
1689 London Gaz. No. 2429/4 The 5th had a Silver Box and pinn'd Case, long Hours of the Dial Plate, and Frosted.
1711 London Gaz. No. 4916/4 A..Cloth Suit trim'd with frosted Buttons.
1714 J. Gay Fan i. 13 Should you the rich Brocaded Suit unfold, Where rising Flow'rs grow stiff with frosted Gold.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §211 Limes of this kind all agree in one more property, that of being of a dead frosted surface on breaking.
1825 T. Cosnett Footman's Direct. 31 The parts [of silver salvers, etc.] which are rough, or what is called frosted.
1888 Amer. Mag. Feb. 452/2 Frosted silver is but a clumsy imitation of nature's frosted trees.
1918 McClure's Sept. 13/1 The dining-room table was laid for three, each place being adorned with a napkin-ring of frosted silver.
2008 C. McCreery Maple Leaf & White Cross App. F. 283 This badge was found in both frosted silver and bright polished silver.
b. Of glass: having a translucent, textured surface, such that light passing through it is scattered and does not form a clear image. Frequently in frosted glass (also attributive).Frosted glass is typically produced by sandblasting or acid etching, although a similar effect can be created with a powdered glass coating or a special paint or spray (cf. quot. 1824 and frosting n. 5a).
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > glass and glass-like materials > [adjective] > frosted
greyed1789
frosted1820
matted1823
1820 Aberdeen Jrnl. 3 May 3/4 A full-pannelled semi dome ceiling..terminating in a fan-light of frosted glass.
1824 Encycl. Brit. Suppl. V. 211/2 These glass shades are made rough, not by grinding, but by laying a coat of powdered glass on the smooth surface of the shade, and then exposing it to the heat of a furnace, so that the powdered glass becomes adherent, and produces a rough or frosted surface.
1873 Acts Legislature W. Virginia 1872–3 xcix. 254 It shall be unlawful for any person or persons..to sell intoxicating liquors behind screens, ‘frosted’ windows, or any other device designed or intended to protect the seller or buyer from public observation.
1925 Today's Housewife Nov. 21/3 One of the simplest means of improving the light and avoiding glare is to use only ‘obscured’ or frosted bulbs.
1966 V. Nabokov Speak, Memory (U.S. rev. ed.) vii. 141 Spacious windows alternated with narrower ones,..and some of these were of frosted glass.
2000 N.Y. Times 8 June f8 (caption) Clever coverups for windows with security bars include frosted glass panels.
4.
a. Covered with frost. Later also with over.In quot. 1649 perhaps: covered with ice or snow.
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the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [adjective] > intensely cold, freezing, or frosty > frosty > characterized by or covered with hoar frost
rimyOE
frosty?a1450
rindy1648
frosted1649
rimed1841
hoar-frosty1845
frost-hoar1853
1649 J. Howell Trance 16 So my Spirit brought me Northward a little, and shew'd me a huge lough, where there were frosted mountains up and down.
1720 J. Gay Trivia ii, in Poems I. 169 Hoary Thames, with frosted oziers crown'd.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 13 Socrates..trod the frosted ground with his bare feet.
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets x. 313 Tall tree-heaths that wave their frosted boughs above your head.
1926 E. Wylie Orphan Angel vi. 204 He..approached delicately over the frosted grass.
2003 Bristol Evening Post (Nexis) 8 Jan. A Frenchman..killed a cyclist when he ran into him while driving with a frosted-over windscreen.
b. figurative. Covered with something resembling or likened to frost. Chiefly in predicative use with with. Also with over.
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the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > [adjective] > covered with a powdery layer
farinaceous1646
frosted1675
powdery1708
pollinose1826
pollinar1858
1675 N. Grew Disc. conc. Mixture v. 101 The top of the unresolved Salt will be incrustate, or as it were frosted over, with many small and hard Concretions.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 318 Entering upon the Plains..we found it all frosted with Salt.
1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. 128 Its [Fluor's] surface mostly smooth, and frosted over with minute crystals.
1847 H. Miller First Impressions Eng. ii. 27 Picturesque incidents, that, frosted over with the romance of history, glimmer with a sort of phosphoric radiance in the records of the place.
1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 6 Jan. in French & Italian Notebks. (1980) 10 The windows of our railway carriage were already frosted with dirty French breath.
1887 Lady 20 Jan. 37/1 The younger [lady] was attired in frosted tulle and snowdrops.
1909 A. J. Jones Some Minor Chords 110 Miss Jean..was artistically lovely in shimmering white, lightly frosted with silver.
2003 R. L. Stine Sitter (2004) 89 The small windows at the back were frosted with dust.
c. Zoology and Botany. Having the appearance of being covered with glistening particles, silvery hairs or scales, etc. Frequently in the names of plants or animals.
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the world > plants > appearance of plant > plant defined by colour or marking > [adjective] > covered with glistening particles
frosted1777
iced1836
1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 636 [Atriplex lacinicta] Frosted or Leprous Sea Orache. Anglis. Upon the sea shores not uncommon.
1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 90/2 The Frosted Yellow (Fidonia conspicuata).
1944 C. A. Naether Bk. of Pigeon (ed. 3) ix. 126 The mealy, bluish-white (‘frosted’) plumage.
1996 S. J. Ostrander Great Nat. Areas Eastern Pennsylvania lvi. 183 Barrens are also prime habitats for rare butterflies and moths, such as the..frosted elfin.
d. Of make-up or a make-up shade: containing very small shiny particles; having a (now typically pale) pearlescent sheen.
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1940 Drug & Cosmetic Industry May 574/1 Barbara Bates endeavors to create a new fashion with 'Twin Finger Jewels'—a sterling silver ring..with complimentary nail polish... Interesting combinations have been created such as..[a] frosted blue ring with Frosted Red polish.
1959 Life 19 Oct. 11 (advt.) To have real fatale allure frost your eyes with new shimmering shadows that are color plus gold or silver. These fashionable frosted eye shadows come in little pans.
1995 ‘Boy George’ & S. Bright Take it like Man iv. 34 Sandy wore bubble wigs and hot pants, white frosted eyeshadow and stick-on stars around her eyes.
2007 Look 30 Apr. 45 Talk about attention to detail... Even the frosted lippy matches.
5. Of a cake, bun, etc.: covered or decorated with frosting or icing; (formerly also) †dusted with powdered sugar. Also with over. Cf. iced adj. 2a. Now chiefly North American.
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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > garnishing > [adjective] > iced or sugar-coated
frosted1656
iced1775
sugar-candied1825
sugared1855
sugar-coated1865
glacé1882
piped1969
1656 tr. Marnettè Perfect Cook lv. 137 When your said Tart is thorowly baked, draw it, and powder it with some Sugar, and sprinkle it either with Rose-water, or with Orange-flower water; after which do but just put it into the Ovens mouth, that it may become frosted [Fr. afin qu'elle se glace].
1735 H. Fielding Old Man taught Wisdom 4 His Head is..done all down upon the top with Sugar, like a frosted Cake.
1798 P. Wakefield Juvenile Anecd. II. 41 She happened to cast a look upon a small plum-cake, frosted over with sugar against twelfth-day.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xiv. 254 Pope and his school wrote poetry fit to put round frosted cake.
1873 Ladies Repository July 54/2 Frosted sweet-cakes and puff-tarts.
1917 U.S. Dept. Agric. Farmers' Bull. No. 824. 14 Fruit and frosted cake for dessert.
1968 L. J. Braun Cat who turned on & Off (1969) x. 96 On her tray were chocolate brownies..frosted chocolate squares topped with walnut halves.
2002 Baker's Catal. Jan. 15/2 Use this blend to make sweet yeasted pastries (sticky buns, frosted braids, cinnamon buns, holiday sweet breads).
6. Architecture. Of masonry: carved to resemble icicles or stalactites. Cf. ice work n. 1.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > architectural ornament > [adjective] > other ornaments
raffled1681
frosted1728
oviculated1789
voluted1810
antefixal1844
arborescent1849
dog-toothed1849
finialled1850
floreted1856
historied1936
1728 J. Gibbs Bk. Archit. Introd. p. xxi A Rustick frosted Column, with a Figure a top.
1790 W. Wrighte Grotesque Archit. 7 The arcades to be ice or frosted work.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. Gloss. 977 Frosted, a species of rustic-work, imitative of ice, formed by irregular drops of water.
1866–7 G. Stephens Old-Northern Runic Monuments I. ii. 507 The single lines slightly roped or twisted or frosted, or whatever we may call it.
1984 Archit. Hist. 27 434 The lantern with its obelisks and frosted rustication was removed from the roof.
1990 R. Adam Classical Archit. xi. 188 Most extraordinary of all is the frosted, or congelated, finish, used on Baroque buildings and cut to imitate the petrified drops of limestone found in caves.
7. Glass-making. Designating a type of glassware, originating in Venice, with a crazed appearance made by cooling and then reheating the glass when partially blown. Cf. ice-glass n. (b) at ice n. Compounds 8, crackle-glass n. at crackle n. Compounds 2. Now rare.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > ornamental glass-work > [noun] > frosted glass
ice-glass1664
frosted1847
1847 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 10 85/1 Mr. Pellatt stated [in a lecture] that he had tried to imitate the projecting crystal forms divided by concave fissures of the Venetian frosted glass.
1849 A. Pellatt Curiosities of Glass Making 116 Frosted glass..has irregularly veined, marble-like projecting dislocations, with intervening fissures.
1907 E. Dillon Glass xiii. 203 The Frosted or Crackle Glass is perhaps the simplest modification of the pure cristallo.
2004 I. Doménech in J.-A. Page et al. Beyond Venice 104/1 Most of the earlier [Venetian glass-making] techniques continued to be employed. Among them was the making of frosted glass.
8. Chiefly North American. Of a drink: chilled, cold; (of food) frozen (now chiefly historical).
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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > general preparation processes > [adjective] > chilled or iced
iced1673
frappé1848
chilled1891
frosted1891
frosty1922
cook-chilled1989
1891 Evening Herald (Syracuse, N.Y.) 13 May 3/1 (advt.) Other beverages sold at the same price are Roman Punch (frosted), Champagne Punch (frosted) and Egg Lemonade.
1925 I. Gershwin Harlem River Chanty (song) in Lyrics on Several Occasions (1959) 176 Yo-ho-ho, with a frosted coffee—Yo-ho-ho, fill up the glass!
1950 N.Y. Times 30 Mar. 37/6 ½ packet frosted peas and carrots, thawed but uncooked.
1989 T. Findlay in Toronto Life f28 Tall, cool bottles of frosted Riesling and sparking cider from the Liquor Board.
2004 York (Pa.) Dispatch (Nexis) 13 Dec. Birds Eye Foods referred to frozen food as ‘frosted’ when it was first introduced in 1930. Apparently company officials were concerned with the connotation of ‘frozen’ and what it might imply to consumers. The term ‘frosted food’ did not last long.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1623