frazzle

frazzle
frazzle (v.) c.1825, "to unravel" (of clothing), from E.Anglian variant of 17c. fasel "to unravel, fray" (like the end of a rope), from M.E. facelyn "to fray" (mid-15c.), from fasylle "fringe, frayed edge," dim. of O.E. fæs "fringe." Cf. Ger. Faser "thread, fiber, filament," M.Du. vese "fringe, fiber, chaff." Probably influenced in form by fray (v.). Related: Frazzled. As a noun, from 1865, Amer.Eng.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Frazzle — is the only Muppet monster intended to be scary , in the children s television series Sesame Street . During the late 1980s to early 1990s, his career was limited to that of a background extra, due to his intimidating appearance.With the… …   Wikipedia

  • Frazzle — Fraz zle, n. 1. The act or result of frazzling; the condition or quality of being frazzled; the tag end; a frayed out end. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.] [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC] My fingers are all scratched to frazzles. Kipling. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • frazzle — [n] exhaustion; something very worn collapse, enervation, lassitude, prostration, rag, remnant, shred; concepts 410,720 frazzle [v] wear out exhaust, fray, knock out, poop*, prostrate, rip, shred, tear, tire, tucker*, wear; concepts 156,186 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • frazzle — informal ► VERB 1) (frazzled) completely exhausted. 2) cause to shrivel up with burning. ► NOUN (a frazzle) 1) an exhausted state. 2) a charred or burnt state. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • Frazzle — Fraz zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Frazzled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Frazzling}.] [Cf. G. faseln, and E. fray.] To fray; to wear or pull into tatters or tag ends; to tatter; used literally and figuratively. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] Her… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • frazzle — [fraz′əl] Informal vt., vi. frazzled, frazzling [Brit (E Anglian) dial. & U.S., prob. altered (after FRAY2) < dial. fazle < ME faselen, to fray < fasel, frayed edge < fas < OE fæs, a fringe] 1. to wear or become worn to rags or… …   English World dictionary

  • frazzle — n. burnt to a frazzle ( completely burnt ) * * * [ fræz(ə)l] burnt to a frazzle ( completely burnt ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • frazzle — fraz|zle [ˈfræzəl] n BrE informal 1.) be burnt to a frazzle to be completely burnt 2.) be worn to a frazzle to feel very tired and anxious …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • frazzle — UK [ˈfræz(ə)l] / US noun burnt to a frazzle worn to a frazzle …   English dictionary

  • frazzle — I. verb (frazzled; frazzling) Etymology: alteration of English dialect fazle to tangle, fray Date: circa 1825 transitive verb 1. fray III 2. a. to put in a state of extreme physical or nervous fatigue b. upset …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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