french

Etymology

Middle English French, Frens(c)h from Old English frencisc (“of the Franks, Frankish, French”), from Franca (“a Frank”). Compare Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), akin to Old English franca (“javelin, spear”), from the use of such weapons by the Franks.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: frĕnch, IPA^(key): /fɹɛnt͡ʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛntʃ

Verb

french (third-person singular simple present frenches, present participle frenching, simple past and past participle frenched)

1. (transitive) To prepare food by cutting it into strips.
2. (transitive) To kiss (another person) while inserting one’s tongue into the other person's mouth.
   • 1988, Wanda Coleman, A War of Eyes and other stories, page 151:

     Tom frenched her full in the mouth.

3. (intransitive) To kiss in this manner.
   • 2003, Susan Steinberg, TheEend of Free Love, page 81:

     We frenched by the wall.

See also

• French
• julienne