fringen.
/frɪn(d)ʒ/, U.S. /frɪndʒ/ 1.
a. An ornamental bordering, consisting of a narrow band to which are attached threads of silk, cotton, etc., either loose or formed into tassels, twists, etc. (Occasionally: spec. that worn by the Hebrews in accordance with the command in Numbers 15:38.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [noun] > bordering or edging > fringe
fringec1400
fringing1598
phylactery1878
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 598 A sadel Þat glemed ful gayly with mony golde frenges.
1407 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1883) II. 52 Pro uno riben frenge de cirico, xvij d.
c1540 Pilgrim's Tale 175 in F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) App. i. 82 With a blak fryng hemyd al about.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida iii. sig. Fv The fringe of your sattin peticote is ript.
1708 M. Henry Expos. Hist. Bks. Old Test. (Judges xix. 22) sig. T3/1 What did it avail them that they had..God's Law in their Fringes, but the Devil in their Hearts.
1780 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting (ed. 2) IV. i. 33 Another Dutch painter,..faithfully imitating the details of lace, embroidery, fringes, and even the threads of stockings.
1861 C. M. Yonge Stokesley Secret iii. 42 Drab alpaca frocks..not a coloured bow nor handkerchief, not a flounce nor fringe, to relieve them.
b. collective. A manufactured article of this kind which may be cut into lengths.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [noun] > bordering or edging > fringe > collectively
fringe1327
1327 Wardr. Acc. Edw. III 33/2 14 uln. frenge, serico nigro, per uln', 3d.
1461–83 Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV (Nicolas) 117 For frenge of gold of Venys at vj s. the ounce.
1466 Paston Lett. No. 549 II. 270 For grey lynen cloth and sylk frenge for the hers.
1589 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 226 For fustyan and fringe..tryminge vpp of the townes pikes.
1660 Goostrey Churchwardens' Accts. in J. P. Earwaker Hist. Anc. Parish Sandbach (1890) 248 Pd. for cloth, silke, thread, and frinje, for a pulpit chussin 1 li.
1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) i. iii. iii. 168 An earl may also have a cloth of State without pendants, but only Fringe.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park II. i. 11 She had..made many yards of fringe . View more context for this quotation
1815 J. Taylor Display xiii. 167 Pray do you sell silk fringe?
2.
a. Anything resembling this; a border or edging, esp. one that is broken or serrated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > [noun] > that which forms the edge or border > resembling a frill or fringe
fringe1649
under-fringe1859
fringelet1887
frilling1899
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar Pref. §11 Little distances neere the centre make larger figures, then when they part neere the fringes of the circle.
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry V cxc, in Poems (1878) IV. 148 A Curled Cloud, whose Top With golden frindge, Spreads Glorie.
a1687 C. Cotton Poems (1689) 354 Light..Beautifies The rayie fringe of her fair Eyes.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 85. ¶1 A friend of mine..has converted the Essays of a Man of Quality into a kind of Fringe for his Candlesticks.
1720 J. Gay Poems Several Occasions II. 383 Some works come forth at morn, but die at night In blazing fringes round a tallow light.
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xvi. 25 The fringe of the foam may be seen below.
1852 W. J. Conybeare & J. S. Howson Life & Epist. St. Paul I. i. 9 Asia Minor..was bordered by a fringe of Greek colonies.
a1854 Ld. Cockburn Memorials (1856) i. 53 [He] detected the dying man peeping cautiously through the fringes of his eyelids.
1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. S. Afr. v. 96 A rim or fringe of ancient rocks.
1864 C. Clarke Box for Season I. 95 His whiskers met in what is commonly known as a Newgate fringe.
1866 ‘G. Eliot’ Felix Holt I. Introd. 10 The handlooms made a far-reaching straggling fringe about the great centres of manufacture.
1871 L. Stephen Playground of Europe ii. 84 A broad fringe of snow ending in a bergschrund.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer (1891) 221 A grand-looking sheet of fresh water..a thin fringe of timber surrounding its margin.
b. figurative occasionally in sense of an appendage or sequel; also (slang or colloquial), irrelevant matter. In wider use: an outer edge or margin of any kind, material or immaterial; an outer limit of a country, area, or population. Also attributive = existing on the edge or margin of an area or region. Cf. also Celtic fringe n. at Celtic adj. and n. Compounds 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > [noun] > outer edge
fringea1639
rim1662
out-edge1760
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > [adjective]
marginal1658
margent1811
fringe1902
a1639 H. Wotton Short View Life Duke of Buckingham (1642) 5 These Offices and Dignities..were but the facings and fringes of his greatnesse.
1651–3 Bp. J. Taylor Serm. for Year (1678) 357 In..the confines of Grace and the fringes of Repentance.
a1734 R. North Lives of Norths I. 322 There followed the horrid conspiracy, called the Rye plot, and, as fringes to these, other minor plots.
1874 H. R. Reynolds John the Baptist i. §5. 47 A fringe of Gentile forces and influences had surrounded the sacred institutions of Judaism.
1875 R. W. Emerson Greatness in Wks. (1906) III. 272 Depth of intellect relieves even the ink of crime with a fringe of light.
1886 Police Report As to what had taken place in the park, he (the magistrate) considered it simple fringe, and he would not go into that.
1898 Queen Victoria in Daily News 20 Dec. 5/4 All these people ask is to be allowed to do their daily task in peace..and to have a little fringe of play.
1902 D. G. Hogarth Nearer East 162 The density of this Fringe population depends on fertility.
1902 D. G. Hogarth Nearer East 181 It is necessary to detach the Arabs, who are found in the Arabian and Mesopotamian Fringe, from the central Semitic group.
1902 D. G. Hogarth Nearer East 185 The outer desert ring has up to now proved effective to separate this loose unity from the Fringe populations.
1902 D. G. Hogarth Nearer East 221 This system of railways..will serve to neutralise the immemorial tendency of this Fringe to display upon a superficial area..a congeries of human groups bitterly antagonistic in tradition and hope.
1903 F. W. H. Myers Human Personality I. Introd. 14 They speak of ‘fringes’ of ordinary consciousness; of ‘marginal’ associations.
1926 J. Geddie (title) The Fringes of Edinburgh.
1935 Amer. Speech 10 10/2 Information..regarding the language spoken on the fringes of society.
1943 Times 21 Dec. 2/3 Altogether 35 sneak-raiders were destroyed in ‘fringe target’ attacks alone during the first half of the year.
1947 in Amer. Speech (1950) 25 65/1 ‘Fringe’ Parking.
1951 Electronic Engin. 23 262 He is resident in a fringe area.
1958 Spectator 14 Feb. 195/3 It may have won him a few fringe votes in Rochdale.
1958 Times 11 Nov. 4/3 Certain ‘fringe’ events arranged in Bath during the festival, notably the Festival Ball, [etc.].
1960 Guardian 23 June 8/1 This is not part of the festival, but one of the ‘fringe’ entertainments.
1960 G. Murray in Spectator 28 Oct. 639 I have..adopted the term ‘fringe’ to indicate those medical practices which are not available to the patient in the NHS as a matter of course.
1962 Guardian 4 July 7/1 The posturings of a bunch of fringe-lunatics.
1966 Times 9 Nov. 13/5 Fringe Londoners like to keep the odd pig or two in their outbuildings.
1971 Ink 12 June 12/4 Events include discussions, rock groups, fringe theatre.
c. A portion of the front hair brushed forward and cut short. Cf. bang n.2 Also Grecian fringe.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > fringe
taure1688
Grecian fringe1876
bang1878
idiot fringe1879
1876 Queen 29 July (advt.) Curled or waved fringes for the front hair.
1878 Cassell's Family Mag. 4 175/2 None of that affected ‘Grecian fringe’ with which modern ‘girls of the period’ strive to hide what little forehead they possess.
1883 M. Oliphant Lover & his Lass (ed. 2) III. iv. 84 Jean was not too old to indulge in..fringes and curls on her forehead.
1886 W. Besant Children of Gibeon I. i. v. 131 The ‘fringe’ was never intended to darken and disfigure the face.
1887 Daily News 2 May 7/2 Wanted, at once, a young person..who understands house and parlour work..No fringe.
d. In plants.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > hair or bristle > [noun] > fringe
fringe1601
fimbria1752
fimbrilla1884
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 217 The said root is full of strings or fringes.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 330 Splachnum..fringe with 8 teeth.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 239 Calyx magnified, shewing the fringes.
1856 E. Capern Poems (ed. 2) 136 Why its [the daisy's] fringe..Is thrown o'er mosses mellow.
1862 C. Darwin On Var. Contrivances Orchids Fertilised v. 207 If these fringes are placentae, they are more largely developed than in other Orchids.
1879 J. Lubbock Sci. Lect. i. 17 Small flies..when they have once entered the tube, are imprisoned by the fringe of hairs.
e. In animals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > [noun] > fringe-like
fash1558
fringe1665
furbelow1742
frill1860
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 174 The whole edge of the wing is cover'd with a small fringe, consisting of short and more slender brisles.
1811 A. T. Thomson London Dispensatory ii. 274 A black substance on the fringe or fin [of oysters].
1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. II. 327 Elytra and wings..without fringes.
1844 W. B. Carpenter Animal Physiol. vi. 248 In Fishes, the gills are composed of fringes.
1855 T. R. Jones Gen. Outl. Animal Kingdom (ed. 2) v. 120 A delicate contractile arborescent fringe.
f. Anatomy. = fimbria n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > sex organs > female sex organs > [noun] > Fallopian tubes > end of
fimbria1752
fringe1850
pavilion1850
1850 R. P. Thomas tr. P. Cazeaux Theoret. & Pract. Treat. Midwifery 62 One of these fringes..attaches itself to the extremity of the ovary.
g. Optics. A band or strip of contrasting brightness or darkness produced by the diffraction or interference of light and usually seen as one of a series.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > diffraction > [noun] > band, strip
fringe1718
schliere1867
isogyre1902
isochromatic1924
Brewster fringes1934
1718 I. Newton Opticks (ed. 2) iii. i. 293 These Shadows have three parallel Fringes, Bands or Ranks of colour'd Light adjacent to them.
a1830 J. F. W. Herschel Light in Encycl. Metrop. (1845) IV. 468 On the whole, the lamina would appear marked all over with dark and bright alternating fringes, just as we see it actually does.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics iv. 32 A bright light..separated from the faint light by a coloured fringe.
1837 C. R. Goring & A. Pritchard Micrographia 76 When I obtained the light of the prism..obliquely, the coloured fringes instantly appeared.
1866 E. Atkinson tr. A. Ganot Elem. Treat. Physics (ed. 2) vii. viii. 491 From the fact that the dark fringes disappear when one of the beams is intercepted, it is concluded that they arise from the interference of the two pencils which cross obliquely.
1866 E. Atkinson tr. A. Ganot Elem. Treat. Physics (ed. 2) vii. viii. 493 A series of alternate dark and light bands or fringes are seen parallel to the line of shadow.
1923 R. Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics IV. 144/2 The simplest application of interference fringes is the testing of optical surfaces by means of test plates.
1963 R. W. Ditchburn Light (ed. 2) v. 127 Coloured fringes are often seen when a thin film of transparent material is viewed by reflected light. The film may be a layer of oil on water or on the surface of a road.
1966 W. J. Smith Mod. Optical Engin. xiv. 416 The accuracy of the fit between work and gage is described in terms of the number of fringes seen when the gage is placed in contact with the work.
h. A strip of false colour between regions of contrasting brightness in an optical image, or surrounding the representation of an object on a colour film or in a projected colour picture (cf. fringing n. b).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > a photograph > qualities and effects > [noun] > fringes of false colour
fringe1891
fringing1912
colour fringing1917
1891 H. T. Wood Light vii. 105 Newton..arrived at the conclusion..that an achromatic object-glass, or a glass not showing these coloured fringes, was impossible.
1936 A. B. Klein Colour Cinematogr. 322 A fringe may be caused by parallax, error in printing registration, or by movement in the object which has taken place between the exposure of color-separation negatives.
1943 A. Cox Optics 220 When there is any appreciable amount of lateral chromatic aberration present one side of the image has a red fringe, and the other has a deep blue fringe.
1963 R. W. Ditchburn Light (ed. 2) vii. 259 When white light is used, coloured fringes appear at the boundaries between light and dark regions in an image.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a.
fringe-maker n.
ΚΠ
1679 W. Bedloe Narr. Horrid Popish Plot 11 French-fring-maker.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 478. ⁋2 Fringe-makers, lace-men.
b.
fringe-making n.
ΚΠ
1713 London Gaz. No. 5086/4 The Employment..of Fringmaking.
c.
fringe-backed adj.
fringe-finned adj.
ΚΠ
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 321 A division of Ganoids called..Crossopterygidæ, or fringe-finned.
fringe-hung n.
ΚΠ
1827 T. Hood Hero & Leander lxxvi, in Plea Midsummer Fairies & Other Poems 94 Picture one..Who slowly parts the fringe-hung canopies.
fringe-lipped adj.
ΚΠ
1836 W. Yarrell Hist. Brit. Fishes (1859) I. 19 The Fringe-lipped Lampern.
C2.
fringe benefit n. originally U.S. a perquisite or benefit of some kind provided by an employer to supplement a money wage or salary; also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > [noun] > personal income or acquired wealth > casually or incidentally acquired > as thing left to servant or subordinate as right
vail1592
perquisitec1709
fringe benefit1952
1952 Newsweek 18 Feb. 74/2 For its 650,000 members it had asked..several cents' worth of fringe benefits.
1955 Times 6 June 10/3 Many of the gains that labour has been getting through new contracts are not so much increases in money wages as in so-called ‘fringe’ benefits—such as larger pensions and welfare payments.
1962 Times 12 Nov. 11/3 The term ‘fringe benefit’ was apparently first recorded..in an announcement by the United States War Labour Board during the Second World War.
1969 Times 30 Apr. 24/4 (advt.) Successful candidates can expect to receive salaries based on their experience and ability and fringe benefits which include 18 working days holiday a year, generous contributory pension scheme, free life insurance to the value of two years salary and car purchase at reduced rates.
fringe-flower n. = fringe-tree n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > North American trees or shrubs > [noun] > fringe-tree
snowdrop tree1731
fringe-tree1775
old man's beard1797
snow-flower1862
fringe-flower1882
1882 J. Smith Dict. Pop. Names Plants Fringe-Flower (Chionanthus virginica) a shrub..of the Olive family.
fringe-gloves n. fringed gloves, gloves ornamented with a fringe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for hands > [noun] > glove > types of > other > gloves
fringe-gloves1589
jessamy gloves1666
1589 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 55 A dosse' fringe gloves.
1670 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 208 A rich pair of fring-gloves.
fringe-loom n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [noun] > weaving > loom > other types of loom
engine1676
power loom1808
damask loom1847
box loom1848
needleloom1867
fringe-loom1874
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Fringe-loom, one in which the weft-thread is carried and detained beyond the limit of the warp, which has thus a series of loops beyond the selvage.
fringe medicine n. a collective term for systems of treatment of disease, etc., that are not regarded by the medical profession as part of orthodox treatment or whose efficacy and underlying premises are disputed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > [noun] > alternative medicine
botanism1668
herbal medicine1848
rhizotomy1872
fringe medicine1960
alternative medicine1974
1960 G. Murray in Spectator 28 Oct. 639 I have not attempted to assess the merits of the treatments that fringe medicine can provide.
1964 B. Inglis Fringe Medicine 264 The distinction between orthodox and fringe medicine today is that orthodox treatment relies mainly on fighting disease with the help of drugs or surgery, whereas unorthodox treatment concentrates on stimulating the patient's constitution to fight on its own behalf, on the assumption that this is safer and more effective.
1980 Conc. Med. Dict. 248/1 Among the more reputable of systems of fringe medicine are osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and chiropractic.
1983 Guardian 15 Apr. 15/4 Herbalism and other forms of fringe medicine attracted him.
fringe-moss n. a name for various species of moss (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > moss > [noun] > other mosses
golden maidenhair1578
polytrichon1578
bryon1597
maidenhair moss1597
mountain coralline1598
chalice-moss1610
purple bottle1650
water moss1663
fern-moss1698
hypnum1753
Mnium1754
rock tripe1763
feather-moss1776
scaly water-moss1796
screw moss1804
hog-bed1816
fringe-moss1818
caribou moss1831
apple moss1841
bristle-moss1844
scale-moss1846
anophyte1850
robin's rye1854
wall moss1855
fork-moss1860
thread-moss1864
lattice moss1868
robin-wheat1886
1818 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 6) III. 1058 Toothed Hoary Fringe-Moss, Bryum hypnoides.
1868 F. E. Tripp Brit. Mosses 124 Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Many-leaved Fringe Moss.
fringe-myrtle n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > other shrubs > [noun]
moorworteOE
bean-trefoil1551
Osyris1562
bladder-nut1578
anagre1608
peasecod tree1611
firebush1639
Colutea1664
savin1697
houseleek-tree1732
Volkameria1753
Andromeda1760
bladder-senna1785
fringe-myrtle1866
thyrse-flower1866
eranthemum1882
nitre bush1884
ilima1888
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Fringe-Myrtles, a name given by Lindley to the Chamælauciaceæ.
fringe-net n. a net intended to confine a fringe ( 2c) of hair.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > accessories worn in the hair > [noun] > net or guard
hair-guard1864
pug1866
fringe-net1899
shingle cap1926
1899 Westm. Gaz. 10 June 2/1 She was now engrossed with a refractory fringe-net.
1909 M. B. Saunders Litany Lane i. vi Her round face, tightened up in a stiff frame of fringe-nets.
1966 J. Stevens Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing & Wigmaking 61/2 Fringe net, a net of human hair or, exceptionally, of silk or nylon used to confine a fringe of hair.
fringe-netted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > accessories worn in the hair > [adjective] > with a net
fringe-netted1909
1909 M. B. Saunders Litany Lane i. x Provincial mayoress..with fringe-netted hair.
Categories »
fringe-pod n. a name given in California to Thysanocarpus laciniatus.
fringe-tree n. Chionanthus virginica.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > North American trees or shrubs > [noun] > fringe-tree
snowdrop tree1731
fringe-tree1775
old man's beard1797
snow-flower1862
fringe-flower1882
1775 A. Burnaby Trav. Middle Settlements N.-Amer. 7 The woods are beautified with fringe-trees, flowering poplars, etc.
1863 ‘S. L. Jones’ Life in South I. vi. 85 The fringe-tree.
fringe-variation n. Chess (see quot. 1907).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > strategy > specific strategies or tactics
unpinning1607
defence1614
fork1656
attack1733
backgame1750
castling1813
exchange1823
pin1868
fringe-variation1898
fidation1910
sacrifice1915
unpin1922
pawn storm1926
Siesta variation1935
liquidation1965
sac1965
1898 Brit. Chess Mag. 472 It would not be very difficult to find quite a goodly collection of two-movers in which every specimen contained the weakness of a ‘fringe’ variation.
1907 S. S. Blackburne Terms & Themes Chess Probl. i. 54 A variation which does not spring naturally from the position, but has been tacked on by the employment of men which have otherwise no effect upon the solution, is known as a ‘Fringe Variation’.
Derivatives
ˈfringeless adj. having no fringe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > hair or bristle > [adjective] > having hair > not having hair
dodc1449
unbearded1688
beardless1760
mutic1777
awnless1787
downless1796
bald1804
unawned1821
fringeless1837
muticous1847
muticate1913
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [adjective] > bordering or edging > fringe > having no
fringeless1837
1837 J. F. Cooper Recoll. Europe II. 78 The present cropped and fringeless, bewhiskered and laceless generation of France.
1868 F. E. Tripp Brit. Mosses 71 Anodus Donianus..Fringeless Bristle Moss.
ˈfringelet n. a small fringe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > [noun] > that which forms the edge or border > resembling a frill or fringe
fringe1649
under-fringe1859
fringelet1887
frilling1899
1887 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 747 Each fringelet is a tube made of firm, elastic membrane.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
fringev.
/frɪn(d)ʒ/, U.S. /frɪndʒ/ 1. transitive. To furnish, adorn, or encircle with a fringe or something resembling a fringe. Chiefly in past participle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [verb (transitive)] > fringe
fringe1480
thrumc1525
infringe1598
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > form the edge of [verb (transitive)] > provide with an edge > with or as with a fringe
fringe1480
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 143 An other sperver..frenged with frenge of silk.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 315v They so rychely frynge and byset the same with perles.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 174 Nor is this edge onely thus fring'd.
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 37 Curtains fringed with Battlements from one to the other.
1717 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. 1 Apr. (1965) I. 312 They are cover'd..with..cloth..very often richly embrodier'd and fring'd.
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 164 Day's first rays..Fring'd the blue clouds with gold.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 318 The wheat fly itself, is very small..with rounded wings, fringed with short hairs.
1850 N. Hawthorne Scarlet Let. vii. 118 A pair of gloves, which she had fringed and embroidered to his order.
1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirlaugh II. 165 A long tract of moorland, fringed with villages.
1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. Prol. 13 Fringing the wet sands with many coloured wreaths of sea-weed and delicate shells.
2. To serve as a fringe to; to present the appearance of a fringe upon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > form the edge of [verb (transitive)] > specific
purfle1562
frame1705
fringe1794
lip1845
1794 W. Hutchinson Hist. Cumberland I. 188 The wood that fringes the border of the rivers.
1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 62 Why, beautiful nymph, do you close The curtain that fringes your eye?
1859 W. S. Coleman Our Woodlands 61 The Alder also loves to fringe the margins of our lakes and pools.
1865 E. B. Tylor Res. Early Hist. Mankind xii. 342 Close upon the Esquimaux who fringe the northern coast.
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab viii. 153 Camels in scattered order..fringed the horizon.
1884 F. O. Bower & D. H. Scott tr. H. A. de Bary Compar. Anat. Phanerogams & Ferns 338 A narrow band, fringing the lateral edge of the bundle.
3. To fritter or trifle away. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > waste
spilla1000
scatter1154
aspilla1250
rospa1325
waste1340
spend1390
consumec1425
waste1474
miswenda1500
forsumea1510
to cast away1530
to throw away1561
embezzle1578
squander1593
palter1595
profuse1611
squander1611
ravel1614
sport1622
to fool away1628
to stream out1628
to fribble away1633
sweal1655
frisk1665
to fiddle away1667
wantonize1673
slattera1681
swattle1681
drivel1686
swatter1690
to muddle away1707
squander1717
sot1746
slattern1747
meisle1808
fritter1820
waster1821
slobber1837
to cut to waste1863
fringe1863
potter1883
putter1911
profligate1938
to piddle away1942
haemorrhage1978
spaff2002
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ in J. W. Cross George Eliot's Life (1885) II. 367 Such fringing away of precious life, in thinking of carpets and tables, is an affliction to me.
4. intransitive. To spread like a fringe away, off, out, over, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend in space [verb (intransitive)] > like a fringe or feathers
feather1770
fringe1857
1857 ‘G. Eliot’ Janet's Repentance iv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 73/1 The Bridge Way was an irregular straggling street, where the town fringed off raggedly into the Whitlow road.
1875 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Monthly Mar. 286/2 Do you see where the line fringes out at the upper end and begins to fade away?
1877 ‘M. Twain’ in Atlantic Monthly Nov. 591 Its [sc. the town's] borders fringed off and thinned away among the cedar forest.
1899 C. P. Allen What is Liberalism? viii. 48 Its limits fringe away from it like a huge penumbra.
1901 Westm. Gaz. 15 Aug. 2/1 Exmoor..is for the most part in the west of Somerset, but it fringes over into the north-eastern part of Devon.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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