frolic

comparative more frolic · superlative most frolic · alternative frolick

1. archaicMerry, joyous, full of mirth; later especially, frolicsome, sportive, full of playful mischief.First known use 1530s

   You meet him at the tables and conversations of the wise, the impertinent, the grave, the frolic, and the witty; [...]

   1766, Joseph Addison, The Spectator - Volume 5 - Page 304

   3 more examples

   The frolick wind that breathes the Spring, Zephyr with Aurora playing, As he met her once a Maying There on Beds of Violets blew,

   1645, John Milton, “L’Allegro”, in Poems, London: Humphrey Moseley, page 31

   For women, born to be controul’d, Stoop to the forward and the bold, Affect the haughty and the proud, The gay, the frollick, and the loud.

   1682, Edmund Waller, “Of Love”, in Poems, &c. written upon several occasions, and to several persons, 5th edition, London: H. Herringman, published 1686, page 73

   Beale, under this frolic menace, took nothing back at all; he was indeed apparently on the point of repeating his extravagence, but Miss Overmore instructed her little charge that she was not to listen to his bad jokes [...].

   1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew

2. obsoleterareFree; liberal; bountiful; generous.

present singular third person frolics · participle present frolicking · participle past frolicked · past frolicked · alternative frolick

1. intransitiveTo make merry; to have fun; to romp; to behave playfully and uninhibitedly.First known use 1580s

   We saw the lambs frolicking in the meadow.

   2 more examples

   Fools on parade frolic and fuck about to make her gaze Turn to a scribble on a page by a picture that holds her absence But you're daft to think she'd care

   2009, Alex Turner, “Secret Door”, in Humbug (album), performed by Arctic Monkeys

   “So, so beautiful. I'm gonna do one last roly-poly before we go. [snorting, squealing] At least I had one moment of joy in a life of drudgery. Where will the truffle hunt take us next?” “Nowhere. You're free, Jamebone. I'm releasing you from nose jail.” “Really? I can stay here in this paradise and prance and frolic?” “Just stick to frolicking.” “[emotional] Thank you, Mr. Bender. You're the kindest person I've ever met.” “Really? [crying] That's horrible.”

   2025 September 15, David A. Goodman, “The Trouble with Truffles” (18:04 from the start), in Futurama, season 10, episode 9, spoken by Jambone (Maria Bamford)

   Synonyms: frisk

2. archaictransitiveTo cause to be merry.

plural frolics · alternative frolick

1. Gaiety; merriment.First known use 1610s

   the annual jubilee […] filled the souls of old and young with visions of splendour, frolic and fun.

   1876, Louisa May Alcott, “The King of Clubs and the Queen of Hearts”, in Hallberger's Illustrated Magazine: 1876

   1 more example

   By the old-fashioned magnificence of this procession, it might worthily have included his Holiness in person, with a suite of attendant Cardinals, if those sacred dignitaries would kindly have lent their aid to heighten the frolic of the Carnival.

   2012 (original 1860), Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun - Page 276

2. A playful antic.

   He would be at his frolic once again.

   1680, James Dillon, 3rd Earl of Roscommon, Art of Poetry

3. USobsoleteA social gathering.

   He came clattering up to the school door with an invitation to Ichabod to attend a merry-making or “quilting frolic,” to be held that evening at Mynheer Van Tassel’s

   1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow