Etymology: This and the related frill v.¹ are of uncertain origin. The common view is that frill v.³, to shiver, gave rise to a noun (see frill n.³) meaning ‘the ruffling of a hawk's feathers when shivering’, and that the word as applied to an article of costume is a transferred use of this. But this hypothesis finds no support in the rare early instances of the words; and there is no proof that the noun ever had the alleged sense. frill v.¹ 2 suggests that it may be a metathetic form of furl n.; but this is apparently peculiar to Knolles, and should perhaps be regarded as an unconnected word. The noun as used by butchers (sense 3) is commonly regarded as a transferred sense from the ‘frill’ of a shirt; but the analogy of chitterling n. and of French fraise (mesentery of a calf, 14th cent.; ruff, frill, 16th cent.) suggests the possibility that the butchers' sense may be the original (though not recorded until quite recently). Godefroy has one quot. for an Old French participle freolé (v.r. freioleit ) = ‘frilled’ (said of a shirt); and it is noteworthy that in the 17th cent. the French equivalent of furl v. (compare frill v.¹ 2) was fresler, which seems to belong to Old French freseler to frill, adorn, < fresel, -ele, diminutive of fraise ruff; but it is not easy to see how English frill can be connected with these words.

Etymology: < frill v.³; but the word seems to be an etymologizing figment: see note on frill n.¹

Etymology: See frill n.¹

Etymology: probably echoic.

Etymology: < Old French friller.