Frig (interjection)

Frig (/frɪɡ/)^[1] is an interjection in the English language that expresses contempt.^[2] The word can be used as a euphemism for fuck or to refer to masturbation or sexual intercourse.^[3] The participle form frigging is used as an adjective to express annoyance or frustration.^[4] Oxford University Press' Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang argues that frig originally meant to move restlessly.^[5] A different etymology is proposed by Oxford University Press' Dictionary of Euphemisms, which argues that frig initially meant to rub and developed its sexual meanings from this origin; this dictionary further argues that the modern meanings of the word are not derived from the Cornish word frig, meaning wife, or from the Germanic deity Frigg, the wife of Odin.^[6] The deity Frigg has sometimes been referred to in recent times as "Friga" or "Frigga" in order to distance her from the English word frig.^[7] The word's use as a synonym for masturbate dates to 1598 in the United Kingdom, while its use as a euphemism for fuck dates to 1879 in the United Kingdom.^[8] Frig has entered the Australian English lexicon.^[9] In the U.S. state of Maine, frig does not have the sexual connotations that it has elsewhere, and has gained social acceptance in the phrase frig around meaning to fool around or to putter around.^[10]

In popular culture

• The word is used in the title of the bawdy drinking song "Friggin' in the Riggin'".

References

1. Allied Chambers 1999, p. 533.
2. Witte 2012, p. 82.
3. Sheidlower 2009, p. 59.
4. Hughes 2015, p. 186.
5. Ayto & Simpson 2010, p. 99.
6. Holder 2008, p. 189.
7. Sheard 2011, p. 238.
8. Dalzell & Victor 2014, p. 322.
9. Miller 2015, p. 72.
10. Hendrickson 2000, p. 225.

Bibliography

• Allied Chambers (1999). Chembers 21 Century Dictionary (Revised ed.). Allied Publishers. ISBN 9788186062265.
• Ayto, John; Simpson, John (2010). Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199232055.
• Dalzell, Tom; Victor, Terry (2014). The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. ISBN 9781317625124.
• Hendrickson, Robert (2000). The Facts on File Dictionary of American Regionalisms. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781438129921.
• Holder, R.W. (2008). Dictionary of Euphemisms. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199235179.
• Hughes, Geoffrey (2015). An Encyclopedia of Swearing: The Social History of Oaths, Profanity, Foul Language, and Ethnic Slurs in the English-Speaking World. Routledge. ISBN 9781317476788.
• Miller, John (2015). The Essential Lingo Dictionary of Australian Words and Phrases. Exisle Publishing. ISBN 9781775592266.
• Sheard, K.M. (2011). Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names for Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Heathens, Mages, Shamans & Independent Thinkers of All Sorts who are Curious about Names from Every Place and Every Time. Llewellyn Worldwide. ISBN 9780738723686.
• Sheidlower, Jesse (2009). The F-Word (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199751556.
• Witte, Michelle (2012). The Crap-Tastic Guide to Pseudo-Swearing. Running Press. ISBN 9780762444168.