frostyadj.
/ˈfrɒsti/, U.S. /ˈfrɔsti/, /ˈfrɑsti/ I. Relating to or affected by frost or cold.
1. † b. Found or seen in winter. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of the weather, a season, etc.: characterized or affected by frost; extremely cold, freezing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [adjective] > very intensely cold
ice-coldeOE
frostyOE
frosty cold?a1430
frore1483
chill-cold1567
frory?1567
frostbiting1593
numb-cold1597
chilling-cold1616
frigidious1630
frigid1639
finger-cold1752
Siberian1789
freezy1827
ice-cool1853
Arctic1876
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [adjective] > intensely cold, freezing, or frosty > frosty
frostyOE
pruinous1588
OE St. Mary of Egypt (Julius) (2002) 100 Ic wæs grimlice beswæled for þam micclan bryne and eft for þære micclan forstigan cealdnysse þæs wintres.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 467 Longe aftirward, in frosty time [1482 Caxton frost tyme], Iulian was wery, and reste hym aboute mydnyȝt.
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 79 Whanne a bodi breþiþ wiþ þe mouþ in frosty wedir..þou myȝt se þe breeþ.
c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 2 In the frosty contre called Trace.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. v. 2 Frosty wynter scharpit the watter cleir With cald blastis.
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. X.ii The sparrow in the frosty nyght, May shroude her in the eaues.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §231 In Frosty weather, Musick within doors soundeth better.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 298 Perishingly cold with frosty Winds.
1710 J. Swift Lett. (1767) III. 45 It has been fair two or three days, and is this day grown cold and frosty.
1789 C. Smith Ethelinde IV. 155 A successless hunt, the morning being frosty and unfavourable.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. v. 251 If the winter set in with clear frosty weather.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Boadicea 75 The noise of frosty woodlands, when they shiver in January.
1919 M. Gyte Diary 13 Mar. (1999) 214 Finer. A bit frosty and the wind has calmed down.
1984 R. Silverberg Conglomeroid Cocktail Party 171 His own planet, Waldemar, was a frosty place with a planetwide winter for three-quarters of the year.
2008 Independent 28 Feb. (Extra section) 11/2 Blackthorn blossom in unseasonally frosty weather is known as ‘a blackthorn winter’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > season > [adjective] > of or relating to winter
wintryeOE
winterOE
winterlyOE
frostyc1430
brumala1522
hiemalc1560
wintering1591
winterish1610
wintereda1616
hiematical1631
hibernal1646
wintersome1840
mid-wintry1852
mid-winterly1892
c1430 (c1380) G. Chaucer Parl. Fowls (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1871) l. 364 The thurstil old, the frosty feldefare.
2. Of a part of the body: feeling cold, affected by cold.
ΚΠ
?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 5 The smert of thought I by experience Knowe..His frosty swote and his firy fervence.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1879) l. 878 How kyssith she his frosty mouth so cold.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vii. l. 279 His frosty mouth I kissit in that sted.
1558 (?a1440) B. Burgh in E. P. Hammond Eng. Verse between Chaucer & Surrey (1927) 190/1 (MED) Writen at thabbey of bylegh..with frosti fingers, and nothynge pliaunt.
1675 N. Lee Trag. Nero v. i. 42 With my hot arms I'le clapse his frosty limbs, And twine about him, like a wanton girle.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 109 How aften at that ingle cheek Did I my frosty fingers beek.
1875 Home Mail Feb. 22/2 These weeks had brought..a great many cold mornings, frosty noses, cross words and hard lessons.
1913 Photo-era Jan. 24/1 My mittens kept my hands warm, but my feet insisted on feeling frosty unless I kept them in motion.
1998 Boating Mag. Sept. 55/3 Once the windshield was clear, I repositioned the blower unit and used the heater output to thaw out frigid fingers and frosty toes.
3. Covered with frost. Also: consisting of frost. In quot. ?a1450 perhaps: covered with ice or snow.
ΘΚΠ
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
?a1450 ( J. Lydgate Serpent of Division (McClean) (1911) 56 (MED) Þe hiȝe alpies..callid þe cold frosty hillis.
1484 Lydgate's Lyf Our Lady (Caxton) sig. avv Boost & take of hem none hede Whos beaute fayleth as floure in frosty mede.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 141 The frosty grasse..fylles their bellyes full of water.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxiv. 95 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 98 The winters frosty gowne.
1613 S. Hutton tr. J. M. de Franchis Of Most Auspicatious Marriage iii. lxii. 57 Ear[t]hs frosty mantle turn'd to green.
1719 W. Oldisworth tr. Horace Odes (ed. 2) I. i. 6 Flow'rs new springing from the Frosty Bed.
1776 W. J. Mickle tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad iii. 88 On the rude cliffs with frosty spangles grey, Weak as the twilight gleams the solar ray.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. iii. 50 The rays [of the moon] stole through the leafless branches and chequered the frosty turf.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxxi. 424 The dormitory decked itself on the instant with a frosty forest of feathers [when the cold outside air was let in].
1954 Boys' Life Dec. 63/3 The escaping fog vapors are gradually frozen into clusters of frosty feathers an inch or so long.
1994 Vauxhall Shop Catal. Autumn–Winter 12/2 Watch out for wet leaves, black ice, frosty surfaces, packed snow and loose shale.
2013 Daily Mail (Nexis) 22 Jan. During lessons we'd peer through frosty windows at the winter wonderland outside.
4. Chiefly North American and Australian. Of an (esp. alcoholic) drink: chilled, cold.
ΘΚΠ
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
1922 G. L. Hill City of Fire xxiii. 267 A tall slim glass of frosty drink, that smelled of wild grapes, tasted of oranges, and cooled him down to the soul again.
1937 Life 16 Aug. 4/1 (advt.) Frosty..with thick cream making a ribbony pattern in it—your favorite summer drink, Iced Coffee, can be a dream of mellow, melting richness.
1995 Gusto! June 21/1 You're likely to find Aussies gripping a bracing beer or a frosty semillon-chardonnay.
2008 Wired May 64/2 What's better than a frosty beer?
II. Extended, figurative, and allusive uses.
5.
a. Of the hair: white or grey; hoary. Formerly also of a person: †having white or grey hair; (hence) old (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
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
a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) l. 3 (MED) Satourn old with his frosty face.
a1500 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Adv.) in W. B. D. D. Turnbull Visions of Tundale (1843) 85 Janus bifrons..With forsty berd.
1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Feb. Embleme So the old man checketh the rash-headed boy for despysing his gray and frostye heares.
1625 J. Hart Anat. Urines ii. ix. 117 Where was old frostie father gray-beard (Saturne I meane)?
1683 R. Dixon Canidia iv. viii. 34 His bald Alabaster Crown, His frosty Beard, and his Fur'd Gown.
1765 E. Thompson Courtesan 17 Why must a fine young tit, Be touz'd about by each old frosty cit?
1790 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum III. 269 Your locks are like the snaw; But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson my Jo.
1831 Rural Repository 31 Dec. 123/2 The old man of frosty hair and the rosy cheeked urchin.
1871 M. Ross Against Tide xxiv. 53 He was an old man, with a frosty head, more than half bald.
1909 E. Bacon Last Hurdle xiii. 189 The glow of the fire lighted up the old man's ruddy face and frosty hair.
1999 S. Tillis Rethinking Folk Drama 80 Santa, with frosty beard and plush red suit, enthroned on a comfortable chair.
b. Designating old age or advancing years; characteristic of old age. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > age > old age > [adjective] > relating to or characteristic of
oldOE
aged1561
grey-headed1581
frosty1592
grey1602
veneral1631
senile1661
venerable1726
gerontic1885
post-reproductive1900
1592 J. Lyly Gallathea iv. i. sig. F.i You must knowe that siluer haires delight in golden lockes,..and frostie yeeres must bee thawed by youthfull fyers.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus v. iii. 76 If my frostie signes and chappes of age..Cannot induce you to attend my words. View more context for this quotation
1640 T. Rawlins Rebellion ii. i. sig. D2v Is any man so mad, to hugge a disease,..Or play with the bird of Frosty antiquity.
1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 102 An old decrepid Hag, she was grown white With frosty Age.
1701 E. Ward Three Nights Adventures 3 As irksome to me as Frosty Age and Impotence, to a blooming Virgin of Fifteen.
1798 W. Dunlap Andre iv. 47 The cold hand Of frosty Age.
1837 F. Hall Let. 3 June in Lett. East & West (1840) 82 The partner of his youth and of his frosty years.
1863 N. Hawthorne Our Old Home II. 109 That dreary picture of Lear, an explosion of frosty fury.
1989 Times Lit. Suppl. 14 July 783/3 In his frosty years, when age has rendered him impotent, [etc.].
6.
a. Resembling or evoking the coldness of frost or its effects; chilling, numbing, insidiously destructive, etc. Cf. frost n. 3a.
ΚΠ
1532 J. Fisher Two Fruytfull Serm. i. sig. D.i Oh hartes so sore congelyd in the frosty colde of synne, that can nat warme nor delyte in the remembraunce of these moost comfortable Joyes.
1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor Dram. Pers. sig. Aiii Asper..One whome no..frostie apprehension of Daunger, can make to be a Parasite. View more context for this quotation
1655 R. Fanshawe tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad iv. 91 No frosty Fear, benmms [sic] the youthful blood.
1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 83 Death still bore to me a frosty Sound.
1770 F. Gentleman Sultan i. ii. 13 I hate the frosty chilness of delay, By which oft fairest enterprizes fail.
1866 R. Buchanan Poems 199 It swam upon us, in a frosty pain, The end was come at last.
1871 F. T. Palgrave Lyrical Poems 77 Fenced from the frosty gales of ill.
1911 New Age Nov. 444/2 The chilly stare or the dampening silence that should send the guest away with a frosty sensation down his spine.
1999 A. Gansky Ship Possessed iv. 69 It was a frosty fear that belied the warm breeze which blew across the hull of the ship.
b. Of a person or his or her demeanour, speech, etc.: lacking ardour or warmth of feeling, frigid; unfeeling, unresponsive; cold-hearted. Also (now chiefly): showing or characterized by hostility, unfriendliness, or disapproval. Cf. cold adj. 7, 8.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [adjective] > cold or lacking warm feeling
winter-coldOE
coldc1175
cheald1340
umbrous1483
key-colda1535
frosty1548
frostbitten1564
icy1567
wintry1579
cold-hearteda1616
unwarmeda1625
dry1637
cool1641
frigidal1651
frigid1658
thieveless1725
cool-hearted1748
wintry1748
chill1751
cold as charity1795
freezing1813
ice-cold1815
chilly1841
impersonal1846
pincé1858
ice-cool1891
touch-me-not-ish1895
marmorean1902
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxxvii The Cardinals, seyng the frostie hartes, and hardened myndes of bothe parties, determined not, to despute the titles.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Bv She red, and hot..He red for shame, but frostie in desier. View more context for this quotation
1605 Hist. Tryall Cheualry sig. D1 Her father..is frosty in my feruent suite.
1685 S. Wesley Maggots 27 O warm my Soul, for Cupid's cold-Iron-Dart, And your more frosty frowns have kibe'd my Heart.
1729 C. Cibber Damon & Phillida i. 11 My poor Hopes Will never blossom, while she looks so frosty.
a1750 A. Hill Wks. (1753) III. 170 Stay, thou hasty rover—stay, thou frosty lover.
1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. vii. 149 The frosty silence..with which it [sc. a story] is received by the different auditors.
1833 T. Carlyle Let. 18 Nov. in Coll. Lett. T. & J. W. Carlyle (1977) VII. 42 He now writes to Jane in the frostiest..manner.
1857 F. W. Robinson Wildflower III. iii. 24 Kindness and attention..will make an impression on the frostiest hearts.
1958 P. Gibbs Curtains of Yesterday 28 She was less frosty and gave him quite a pleasant smile.
1991 Sunday Sun (Brisbane) 31 Mar. 2/2 The atmosphere was decidedly frosty.
2004 N.Y. Mag. 11 Oct. 88/2 The documentary..gets a frosty reception at a downtown indie-film festival.
7. Entomology and Botany. Having a whitish glistening appearance. Cf. frosted adj. 4c.Frequently modifying adjectives or nouns of colour; cf. also Compounds 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > parts of insects > [adjective] > of marking or colouring > of a glistening white colour
frosty1698
1698 J. Petiver in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 20 396 The Sides are grey or frosty.
1822 A. Eaton Man. Bot. (ed. 3) 295 Disk channelled, somewhat frosty-white; margin frond-like, thin.
1895 J. Barlow Strangers at Lisconnel vi. 132 The little frosty-grey cups on the lichened boulders.
1903 Jrnl. New York Entomol. Soc. 11 142 Thorax..covered with a frosty bloom much like that found on Anopheles.
1935 Jrnl. Torrey Bot. Club 62 131 Fruit frosty blue, semiglobose.
1950 Flower Grower May 63/2 The tubular centers of frosty yellow and white are surrounded with a scalloped edging.
2011 C. W. Heckman Encycl. South Amer. Aquatic Insects 179 The entire anterior portion of the pronotum..is coated by a frosty white pubescence.
Compounds
C1.
a. Modifying adjectives, as in frosty-clear, frosty-cool, frosty-white, etc., adjectives.Recorded earliest in frosty cold adj. at Compounds 2.For uses with adjectives of colour see also sense 7.
ΚΠ
?a1430 Compleynte Virgin (Huntington) l. 221 in Minor Poems T. Hoccleve (1970) i. 7 Now thow art frosty cold, now fyry hoot.
1833 M. Banim & J. Banim Ghost-hunter & Family vi. 55 The sky was frosty-clear.
1894 C. Graves Maids in Market Garden xviii. 109 A frosty-pale umbra of the harvest-moon.
1904 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 90/2 The chirags flared once again with a frosty blue flame.
1949 J. Street & J. Childers Tomorrow we Reap v. 77 Her eyes, brimming a few minutes before, were hard, too; frosty hard.
1966 Burlington Mag. July 365/2 The deep blue mantle that floats about Venus frames both her frosty white tunic and her rose scarf.
1991 C. Woolrich Lifetime of Blues 102 The crackling frosty-sharp noise from the street was cut off as at the throw of a switch.
2012 Leader-Times (Kittanning, Pa.) (Nexis) 20 June Her voice is smooth and sultry, cozy-warm and frosty-cool.
b. Forming parasynthetic adjectives, as frosty-faced, frosty-natured, frosty-spirited, etc.
ΚΠ
1575 G. Gascoigne Glasse of Gouernem. i. v. sig. Ciiv I saw a frosty bearded scholemaster instructing of four lusty young men erewhyle as we came in.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. iv. 19 What a frosty spirited rogue is this? View more context for this quotation
1618 Owles Almanacke 56 Men are so frosty natur'd.
1784 J. Abercrombie Propagation & Bot. Arrangem. Plants & Trees II. 611 Pruinose, or Frosty-leaved Crassula.
1844 New Mirror 20 Jan. 249/2 A spider-like milk-wagon..making the street echo with its quick sharp rattle, as its frosty-whiskered driver went his morning rounds.
1870 All Year Round 1 Jan. 109/2 The male portion of the party had put up their horses and came blowing and frosty-breathed within doors.
1989 ‘C. Roman’ Foreplay xvii. 213 I get into a rapabutt with a frosty-tongued cop.
1994 P. Baker Blood Posse vi. 77 A press of people forty deep led to an untidy desk where a frosty-faced nurse took down complaints.
C2.
frosty cold adj. extremely cold (literal and figurative); in later use esp. of chilled or cold drinks (cf. sense 4); cf. icy-cold adj. at icy adj. Compounds 1b(b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > [adjective] > very intensely cold
ice-coldeOE
frostyOE
frosty cold?a1430
frore1483
chill-cold1567
frory?1567
frostbiting1593
numb-cold1597
chilling-cold1616
frigidious1630
frigid1639
finger-cold1752
Siberian1789
freezy1827
ice-cool1853
Arctic1876
?a1430Frosty cold [see Compounds 1a].
1610 Histrio-mastix iv. i. sig. E4 O I could curse This ideot world! This ill nurs'd age of Peace, That..Blasts forward wits with frosty cold contempt.
1794 W. Peckitt Wonderful Love God to Men 67 The frosty-cold Airs in the Atmosphere above.
1839 F. J. Grund Aristocracy in Amer. II. iii. i. 173 It was a frosty cold day, and we were obliged to have a fire in the cabin.
1870 K. R. Cook Purpose & Passion 24 Those o'er tranquil eyes so frosty-cold.
1935 Boston Sunday Globe 8 Dec. 2/2 (advt.) Lightning Ice Cube Breaker... For frosty cold drinks.
1992 L. Gough Fall down Easy i. 2 Somebody ripping the tab off a frosty cold one.
2009 A. Thomas & A. Karafin Goa & Mumbai (Lonely Planet) (ed. 5) 92/2 The frosty-cold lobby has an internet and ISD booth and an overwhelming feeling of orderliness.
frosty face adj. and n. colloquial (depreciative) †(a) adj. pockmarked; ugly (obsolete); (b) n. (usually preceded by old) (a name for) †a person with a pockmarked face (obsolete), an old, hoary person, or (now chiefly) an unfriendly or hostile person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > blemish > [noun] > scar > of plague or smallpox > face
frosty face1753
1753 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 48. ⁋11 My Friend's Wife damned ugly in a Morning—A frosty Face Devil.
1773 K. O'Hara Golden Pippin i. 19 And you—you frosty-face Dragon! You to keep this bolly-rag on!
1776 J. Leacock Fall Brit. Tyranny iv. iii. 45 What's that you say? Take care, old frosty face.
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Frosty face, one pitted with the small pox.
1843 Dublin Jrnl. Temperance 2 397/1 ‘Stay, I'll open it, as this drunken scoundrel is not here,’ grumbled old frosty face.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses 732 The day old frostyface Goodwin called.
2006 B. Owen Trunkies & Fox who loved Icing v. 70 ‘It's that waiter with the miserable face’... ‘Why do you want [to] bother with old frosty face?’
frosty moon n. the moon when it casts a pale, cold light.
ΚΠ
a1456 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 425 Vpon þe Nuwe Yere night, I prayed vnto þe frosty moone, with hir pale light.
1532 (?a1405) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 410 (MED) The frosty moone.
1765 M. Akenside Pleasures Imag. ii. 339 The frosty moon Glittering on some smooth sea.
1838 Lady's Bk. Sept. 118/1 The clouds had so far cleared away as to admit glimpses of a keen and frosty moon, which shed a cold, pale, desolate light upon every object.
2010 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 24 Dec. 15 Just for a little while, in the candlelight under a frosty moon, you could believe in peace and goodwill.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† frostyv.
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To cover with frost.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [verb (transitive)] > cover with frost
frosty1596
frost1614
glaze1627
glass1880
1596 T. Lodge Margarite of Amer. sig. C2 But when againe her morrow-gathered Ice The morne displaies, and frostieth drouping leaues.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.OE
v.1596