α. 1800s– frog's march.
β. 1900s– frog-march.
frog-marchn.
/ˈfrɒɡmɑːtʃ/, U.S. /ˈfrɔɡˌmɑrtʃ/, /ˈfrɑɡˌmɑrtʃ/ 1.
a. slang (originally British). Usually in form frog's march. Chiefly with the. A method of moving a resistant person (such as a prisoner), in which he or she is lifted by the arms and legs and carried in a prone position with the face pointing towards the ground; the action or an act of moving a person using this method, or an instance of being moved in this way. historical in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > transference > [noun] > conveying or transporting > action of carrying > method of carrying a person
frog-march1871
1871 Evening Standard 18 Apr. 5/4 They did not give the defendant the ‘Frog's March’.
1874 Daily Evening Bull. (San Francisco) 6 Apr. 1/4 The London method is called the ‘frog's march’; in which the prisoner is carried to the station, with the face downwards and the whole weight of the body dependent on the limbs.
1888 Birmingham Daily Post 18 July 5/5 The Home Secretary explained that the removal of persons in custody of the Metropolitan Police by what was called the ‘frog's march’ was not permitted except in cases of absolute necessity.
1925 S. O'Casey Juno & Paycock iii, in Two Plays 81 A nice way you were in last night—carried in in a frog's march, dead to the world.
1929 Times 5 July 5/4 It is alleged that he was carried into the room with his head down in a manner known as the ‘frog march’.
a1940 G. E. Lloyd Trail 1903 (2002) 27 He could not hold any meeting here, and if he persisted there were 20 or 30 men standing who would willingly give them both a ‘frog's march’.
1999 J. E. Rosenfeld Island Broken in Two Halves xxiii. 291 As armed constables grabbed the prophet and forced him into a humiliating ‘frog-march’, a shot rang out.
b. colloquial. An instance of frog-marching a person or of being frog-marched (see frog-march v. 2). Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1988 Rep. on Business Mag. Sept. 101 After nearly 20 years as a career counsellor, Bob Evans has seen it all—the humiliating frog-marches to the elevator,..long-service executives forced to empty their desks on an hour's notice.
1993 Guardian (Nexis) 13 July 17 Cap d'Agde does its best to get rid of the voyeurs... Police do a good line in frogmarches.
1999 Ottawa Citizen (Nexis) 3 (Bks. section) c15 Note that the title is not The History of Reading, but A History of Reading, not a frogmarch down the stacks but a leisurely, idiosyncratic amble.
2004 S. Moxon Great Immigration Scandal iii. 35 I had already daydreamed of an arm suddenly placed on mine and a frog-march to some manager's office.
2. An instance of moving oneself forwards in the manner of a frog. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving along with hands and feet or with body prone > [noun] > creeping or crawling
creepingc1440
proreption1656
crawling1768
crawl1817
reptation1831
frog-march1880
1880 S. B. Lakeman What I saw in Kaffir-land iv. 26 He had had a frog's march—that is to say, on hands, belly, and knees.
1903 McKean County Miner (Smethport, Pa.) 1 Jan. 1/5 At the conclusion of the ceremonies several of the members indulged in a frog-march, but all were of the opinion that they had enjoyed a lovely time.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
frog-marchv.
/ˈfrɒɡmɑːtʃ/, U.S. /ˈfrɔɡˌmɑrtʃ/, /ˈfrɑɡˌmɑrtʃ/α. 1800s– frog's-march.
β. 1900s– frog-march.
1. transitive. slang (originally and chiefly British). Usually in form frog's march. To subject (a person) to a frog-march (frog-march n. 1a). Now rare (historical in later use).
ΚΠ
1884 Sporting Times 1 Nov. 3 They frog's-marched him home.
1884 B'ham Weekly Post 15 Nov. 3/7 Deceased was ‘frog's-marched’—that is, with face downwards—from Deal to Walmer.
1895 K. Grahame Golden Age 210 I suggested frog's marching.., and frog's-marched he accordingly was, the procession passing solemnly across the moonlit Blue Room, with Harold horizontal and limply submissive.
1910 Times 22 Jan. 3/4 While being removed from her cell to the doctor's room she was ‘frog-marched’ by the wardresses, her head being allowed to bump on the stairs.
1912 W. Sickert Compl. Writings on Art (2003) 319 I see, alas, the dawn of a terrible era, when the Art Alderman will no longer walk, a free man, into our studios... He will..be hauled in, frog's marched by Mr McColl, Mr Fry, Mr Robert Roos, and Mr Cyril Butler.
1929 Times 28 Aug. 7/7 It was alleged at the inquest that while being removed to a mental ward Gidder was ‘frog-marched’ and, during a struggle, was kicked by Whitehead.
1994 J. Purvis in M. Maynard & J. Purvis Researching Women's Lives ix. 176 Selina [sc. a suffragette]was frog-marched up the steps to a cell... Frog-marching involved seizing her arms and legs and carrying her head downwards.
2. transitive. colloquial. To hustle forwards (a reluctant or resisting person), typically by seizing the collar or pinning the arms behind the back. Also figurative and in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push > push a person > with his arms pinned together
frog-march1931
1931 J. Ferguson Death comes to Perigord viii. 97 Cæsar slewed him round, and forcing both arms behind his back, got ready to frog-march him to the door.
1935 D. L. Sayers Gaudy Night xxi. 446 Someone seized her round the neck from behind and frog's-marched her off to the cellar.
1952 B. Hamilton So Sad, so Fresh xii. 84 We took complete charge..frogs-marching Marya to the piano.
1972 F. Mason Roads to Liberty 203 He could do nothing to the pair of marines who frog-marched him out into the front yard.
1992 Economist 18 Jan. 47/1 With a holier-than-thou arrogance that grated, Germany has frog-marched its reluctant EC partners into recognition of Croatia and Slovenia.
2003 S. Brown Free Gift Inside! 1 I failed to wait behind the yellow line, as instructed, and was promptly frog-marched..to a welcoming interrogation room.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1871
v.1884