Meanings
alternative friscals · alternative friskles
- obsoletepluralplural onlyLeapings; capers.
Ixion […] turn'd dancer, does nothing but cut capreols, fetch friskals, and leads lavaltoes
1631, Ben Jonson, Chloridia2 more examples
Lay but the raynes on her necke, to take too and seeke not to hold her in, there is no ho with her; then much liberty shall you see what friskals shee will fetch, leape, fling, and flie out, that no ground shall hold her.
1622, The Life of Guzman de AlfaracheAnd, saying so, he gave two or three friskals in the air with very great signs of contentment, and presently went to Dorotea, and taking her mule by the bridle he withheld it, […]
1923, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, translated by Thomas Shelton, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, modernised spelling edition
Origin
Apparently the plural of *friskal (“a playful leap or jump”), from frisk (“brisk and lively movement”) + -al. Compare frisco.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
friskals. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friskals
“friskals.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friskals. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “friskals,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friskals.
Source: friskals on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.