frump en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /fɹʌmp/
Etymology
Probably a contraction of late Middle English frumpylle (“wrinkle”), from Middle Dutch verrompelen, originally equivalent to for- + rump + -le.
Meanings
-
(colloquial, countable) A frumpy person, somebody who is unattractive, drab or dowdy.
Using the ideal of French female beauty as a stick with which to beat Britain's supposedly sexless frumps is a stereotype centuries old.
2009 March 28, Angelique Chrisafis, “The mystery of the bikini-clad minister”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:If you flipped through certain magazines at this time you could be forgiven for thinking that there was no right way to be a woman, only wrong ones — bimbo or frump, slut or prude, shrew or doormat.
2022 March 31, Alexis Soloski, “Why the Sudden Urge to Reconsider Famous Women?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:“I don’t mind how many strange women you’ve loved so long as you don’t tell me about them.” “Women!” said Anthony, with a virtuous air. “Women indeed! You ask James here what kind of women I was going about with last time he saw me.” “Frumps,” said Jimmy solemnly. “Utter frumps. Not one a day under forty-five.”
1925, Agatha Christie, The Secret of Chimneys:You look like such a frump today!
-
(colloquial, uncountable) Unattractive, dowdy clothes.
Get that frump off – it's horrid!
- (countable, dated) A bad-tempered person.
- (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A flout or snub.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| frumps | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (5)
ru мымра (somebody who is unattractive, drab or dowdy) · bg повлекана (somebody who is unattractive, drab or dowdy) · cs hadry (clothes that such a person would wear) · cs hastroš (somebody who is unattractive, drab or dowdy) · cs cuchta (somebody who is unattractive, drab or dowdy)