Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *preg-
Proto-Indo-European *-ós
Proto-Germanic *-az
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *frekōną
Proto-West Germanic *frekōn
Old English frician?
Old English frīcian
Middle English friken?
▲
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-West Germanic *frek
Old English frec
English frekder.?
English freak
First attested in 1567. The sense "sudden change of mind, a whim" is of uncertain origin. Probably from a dialectal word related to Middle English frekynge (“capricious behavior; whims”) and Middle English friken, frikien (“to move briskly or nimbly”), from Old English frīcian (“to leap, dance”), or Middle English frek (“insolent, daring”), from Old English frec (“desirous, greedy, eager, bold, daring”), from Proto-West Germanic *frek, from Proto-Germanic *frekaz, *frakaz (“hard, efficient, greedy, bold, audacious”) (in which case, it would be related to the noun under etymology 3). Compare Old High German freh (“eager”), Old English frēcne (“dangerous”).
For the meaning development compare Russian заско́к (zaskók) akin to ско́к (skók), скака́ть (skakátʹ).
Meanings
(not-comparable) Strange, weird, unexpected.
A freak goal gave Forest the lead when a clearance by keeper John Ruddy bounced off Nathan Tyson and flew in. 2011 April 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Norwich 2 - 1 Nott'm Forest”, in BBC Sport:
Sadness of some shape will now perhaps forever be associated with this satire which won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes film festival: its beautiful young star Charlbi Dean died in August of a freak infection. 2022 May 21, Peter Bradshaw, “Triangle of Sadness review – heavy-handed satire on the super-rich loses its shape”, in The Guardian:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *preg-
Proto-Indo-European *-ós
Proto-Germanic *-az
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *frekōną
Proto-West Germanic *frekōn
Old English frician?
Old English frīcian
Middle English friken?
▲
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-West Germanic *frek
Old English frec
English frekder.?
English freak
First attested in 1567. The sense "sudden change of mind, a whim" is of uncertain origin. Probably from a dialectal word related to Middle English frekynge (“capricious behavior; whims”) and Middle English friken, frikien (“to move briskly or nimbly”), from Old English frīcian (“to leap, dance”), or Middle English frek (“insolent, daring”), from Old English frec (“desirous, greedy, eager, bold, daring”), from Proto-West Germanic *frek, from Proto-Germanic *frekaz, *frakaz (“hard, efficient, greedy, bold, audacious”) (in which case, it would be related to the noun under etymology 3). Compare Old High German freh (“eager”), Old English frēcne (“dangerous”).
For the meaning development compare Russian заско́к (zaskók) akin to ско́к (skók), скака́ть (skakátʹ).
Meanings
(qualifier:dated outside certain expressions) Someone or something that is markedly unusual or unpredictable.
The two-headed calf was a freak.
freak of nature, freak of the weather, freak of the imagination
It is a freak that people talk about when they see it. Not everyone calls it by the right name, and few people know how it gets to be what it is. This freak is hail. 1938, Marian E. Baer, The wonders of water:
And I may answer with another question. Why is a two-headed calf? And my own answer to this is that it is a freak. 1907, Jack London, Before Adam, page 8:
There may be good points about a freak reel, but because it is a freak it will stand little show of even a fair try-out 1920, Onnie Warren Smith, Casting tackle and methods, page 67:
[H]aving a dinner-party at his rooms to entertain some friends from London, nothing would satisfy Mr. Foker but painting Mr. Buck’s door vermilion, in which freak he was caught by the proctors … 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 19, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
[A policeman] saw [Harriet Robinson] in a pair of corduroy trousers, an old gray jacket, and without a hat, singing an Irish song...when [he] asked her what she meant by it, she said that they were only having a lark, and that the clothes she had on belonged to her "old man."—A Mrs Scanlan, called for the defendant, described her freak as "a little bit of joviality." 1894 May 17, “A wife masquerading in male attire”, in Gloucestershire Echo, page 4; quoted in web video by J Draper, I Tried Riding A Penny Farthing (And It Taught Me About Feminism), 8 March 2026, at 18:42:
(derogatory, slang) A person who is extremely abnormal in appearance, social behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices; an oddball, a unique person, originally in a displeasing or alienating way.
St. Bart’s was not particularly pleased either with Lake’s methods or with their results, but kept him on because it was fashionable to have at least one distinguished freak on the staff. 1957 March 7, Vladimir Nabokov, chapter 4.5, in Pnin, Heinemann, page 96:
Gentrification often starts with the artists, revolutionaries, freaks, transfolks, and queers (what I would call my people) moving into poor neighborhoods inhabited by people of color. 2005, Inga Muscio, Autobiography of a Blue-Eyed Devil: […], Seal Press, →ISBN, page 74:
(derogatory, slang) A person who is extremely abnormal in appearance, social behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices; an oddball, a unique person, originally in a displeasing or alienating way. ▸ A hippie.
When long-haired, outlandishly dressed, drug-using hippies pilgrimaged to Haight-Ashbury in the early 1960s, they were quickly dubbed freaks; the pejorative appellation was both obvious and intended. It was not long before freak had become practically synonymous with hippie. It seems, however, that with the acceptance of long hair, the appearance and popularity of some rather bizarre fashions, and the emphasis placed upon "doing one's own thing," freak is no longer burdened with all of its former derogatory associations. Instead […] the word is beginning to acquire a quality which is favorable, glamorous, and somehow even admirable. [1969, Paul A. Eschholz, “Freak compounds for 'argot freaks'”, in American Speech, volume 44, number 4, →DOI, pages 306–307:
(derogatory, slang) A person who is extremely abnormal in appearance, social behavior, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices; an oddball, a unique person, originally in a displeasing or alienating way. ▸ A drug addict.
Smith and Sturges [June 1969] note in their study of the San Francisco drug scene that freak means "anyone addicted to drugs." [1969, Paul A. Eschholz, “Freak compounds for "argot freaks"”, in American Speech, volume 44, number 4, →DOI, pages 306–307:
A person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development; often a bodybuilder weighing more than 260 pounds (120 kg).
An enthusiast, or person who has an obsession with, or extreme knowledge of, something.
Anyone […] who seems "hung up" on some idea, activity or interactional disposition, might be called a "freak." [1968, Fred Davis with Laura Munoz, “Heads and freaks: patterns and meanings of drug use among hippies”, in Journal of Health and Social Behavior, volume 9, number 2, →DOI, pages 156–164:
Bob's a real video-game freak. He owns every games console of the last ten years.
Presently […] college students […] use freak to denote any kind of enthusiast. [1969, Paul A. Eschholz, “Freak compounds for "argot freaks"”, in American Speech, volume 44, number 4, →DOI, pages 306–307:
(endearing, informal, sometimes) A very sexually perverse individual.
She's a freak in the sheets!
These determined souls [foot fetishists] are but the latest in a long line of foot freaks who trace their kinky lineage to ancient China, particularly the Song dynasty, which ruled until the thirteenth century when some other dynasty took over. 2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, pages 38–39:
(qualifier:African-American Vernacular) A wild dance.
Get your freak on.
(dated) A sudden change of mind.
It would be a great comfort to Mr. Weston, as he grew older—and even Mr. Weston might be growing older ten years hence—to have his fireside enlivened by the sports and the nonsense, the freaks and the fancies of a child never banished from home; 1815, Jane Austen, chapter 17, in Emma, volume III:
And then, with heart more hard than stone, ¶ He pick'd my marrow from the bone. ¶ To vex me more, he took a freak ¶ To slit my tongue and make me speak: ¶ But, that which wonderful appears, ¶ I speak to eyes, and not to ears. 1724, Jonathan Swift, On a Pen:
(euphemistic, form-of) Euphemistic form of fuck (“smallest amount of concern or consideration”).
They hear you, not out in the car, but when you practically say it to their face, they could make things hard for you, just to get back at you. You never know.” “Hey, Flor, not for nothin', but I don't give a freak about them guys or[…] 2014 February 4, John Nicholas Iannuzzi, Condemned: A Novel, Open Road Media, →ISBN:
Because I've seen the vampires up there, and they don't give a freak about anyone or anything. Tell me you are different." "I am trying to be. The urges are hard to overcome, but, I assure you, you're safe with me. 2020 December 23, Raven Steele, A Monster's Birth, Raven Steele:
So why am I grieving over someone who doesn't even give a freak about me? These vindictive ideas flowed through my head. A part of me wanted to carve my name into his little Saturn leather seats, but I remembered they weren't leather. 2011 February 9, Silianise Moise, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, but . . ., Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 145:
cs kapric (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · fi -friikki (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ru фрик (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · de Spinner (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · ru задро́т (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · mk ќуд (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · it entusiasta (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ca friqui (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · bg чуда́к (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · ru причу́да (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru уро́д (oddball, especially in physiology) · nl fanaat (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · pt aberração (oddball, especially in physiology) · fr original (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · cs rozmar (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru бота́ник (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · fr mordu (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ko 괴짜 (oddball, especially in physiology) · de Freak (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · id miring (oddball, especially in physiology) · it ghiribizzo (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · es antojo (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · fi intoilija (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ru уро́дец (oddball, especially in physiology) · fi kummajainen (oddball, especially in physiology) · ru чуда́к (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · nl freak (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · cs nadšenec (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · cmn 怪物 (oddball, especially in physiology) · eo strangulo (oddball, especially in physiology) · fr caprice (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · it fanatico (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · eo misformulo (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · nl engerd (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · mk капри́ц (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · de Laune (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ja 変人 (oddball, especially in physiology) · fr phénomène (oddball, especially in physiology) · it fricchettone (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · it fenomeno (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · eo ekŝanĝo (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · eo misiĝintulo (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · ko 괴물 (oddball, especially in physiology) · ru фрик (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · mk чу́дак (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · fr fanatique (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · it patito (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ja フリーク (oddball, especially in physiology) · fi friikki (very sexually perverse individual (friendly use)) · it bizzarria (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · fi friikki (oddball, especially in physiology) · it sfizio (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · fi luonnonoikku (oddball, especially in physiology) · fi oikku (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru чудо́вище (oddball, especially in physiology) · cs ujetej (very sexually perverse individual (friendly use)) · es capricho (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru фрик (oddball, especially in physiology) · fr anormal (oddball, especially in physiology) · ru чуда́чество (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · cs podivín (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · cs fanda (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · bg капри́з (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru чуда́к (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · cs magor (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · ru монстр (oddball, especially in physiology) · grc σχεδίασμα (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · eo diviantulo (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · ru фана́тик (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · eo sciulo (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · de Freak (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · fr déforme (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · it capriccio (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · es friki (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · fi päähänpisto (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru у́мник (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · cs blázen (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · it abnorme (oddball, especially in physiology) · eo fanatikulo (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · cs machr (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · bg прищя́вка (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · ru капри́з (sudden causeless change or turn of the mind) · tr manyak (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · ru фана́т (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · mk изрод (oddball, especially in physiology) · uk дива́к (oddball, especially in physiology) · mk фанатик (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · cmn 人妖 (oddball, especially in physiology) · it maniaco (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · de Spinner (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · it deforme (person whose physique has grown far beyond the normal limits of muscular development) · ru уро́дина (oddball, especially in physiology) · fr fana (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · eo strangulo (nonconformist, especially in appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or business practices) · fr fou (person who has an obsession or extreme knowledge of something) · fr monstre (oddball, especially in physiology)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *preg-
Proto-Indo-European *-ós
Proto-Germanic *-az
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-Germanic *frekōną
Proto-West Germanic *frekōn
Old English frician?
Old English frīcian
Middle English friken?
▲
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-West Germanic *frek
Old English frec
English frekder.?
English freak
First attested in 1567. The sense "sudden change of mind, a whim" is of uncertain origin. Probably from a dialectal word related to Middle English frekynge (“capricious behavior; whims”) and Middle English friken, frikien (“to move briskly or nimbly”), from Old English frīcian (“to leap, dance”), or Middle English frek (“insolent, daring”), from Old English frec (“desirous, greedy, eager, bold, daring”), from Proto-West Germanic *frek, from Proto-Germanic *frekaz, *frakaz (“hard, efficient, greedy, bold, audacious”) (in which case, it would be related to the noun under etymology 3). Compare Old High German freh (“eager”), Old English frēcne (“dangerous”).
For the meaning development compare Russian заско́к (zaskók) akin to ско́к (skók), скака́ть (skakátʹ).
Meanings
(intransitive, slang) To react extremely or irrationally, usually under distress or discomposure.
When the owner found a bunch of beatniks in there, he freaked, but that was later. 1968, Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, New York, N.Y.: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, →OCLC, page 270:
But after one night turned into five days, I was freaking out. I missed him. 1994, James Earl Hardy, B-Boy Blues: A Seriously Sexy, Fiercely Funny, Black-On-Black Love Story, Alyson Publishing, page 107:
(ambitransitive, slang) To be placed or place someone under the influence of a psychedelic drug, (especially) to experience reality withdrawal, or hallucinations (nightmarish), to behave irrational or unconventional due to drug use.
The sky's unresting cloudland, […] / [N]ow parcelling the icy inane / highspredd in fine diaper of silver and mother-of-pearl / freaking the intense azure; […] 1929, Robert Bridges, “Book I: Introduction”, in The Testament of Beauty: A Poem […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 13, lines 277 and 283–285:
The tufted Crovv-toe, and pale Geſſamine, / The vvhite Pink, and the Panſie freakt vvith jeat, / The glovving Violet. 1637 (date written; published 1638), John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 63:
Sables, of gloſſy black; and dark-embrovvn'd, / Or beauteous freakt vvith many a mingled hue, / Thouſands beſides, the coſtly pride of courts. a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Winter”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, page 193, lines 813–815:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *preg-
Proto-Indo-European *-ós
Proto-Germanic *-az
Proto-Germanic *frekaz
Proto-Indo-European *-ō
Proto-Germanic *-ô
Proto-Germanic *frekô
Old English freca
Middle English freke
English freak
From Middle English freke, freike (“a bold man, warrior, man, creature”), from Old English freca (“a bold man, warrior, hero”), from Proto-Germanic *frekô (“an active or eager man, warrior, wolf”), from *frekaz (“active, bold, desirous, greedy”), from Proto-Indo-European *pereg-, *spereg- (“to shrug, be quick, twitch, splash, blast”).
Cognate with Old Norse freki (“greedy or avaricious one, a wolf”), Old High German freh (“eager”), German frech, Old English frēcne (“dangerous, daring, courageous, bold”).
Meanings
A man, particularly a bold, strong, vigorous man.
(Scotland, UK, dialectal) A fellow; a petulant young man.