frazzle
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L320963 on Wikidata ↗verb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L331767 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈfɹæz(ə)l/
noun
Etymology: Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).
- A burnt fragment; a cinder or crisp.
“The bacon was burned to a frazzle.”
- The condition or quality of being frazzled; a frayed end.
“1886–90, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History Gordon had sent word to Lee that he had fought his corps to a frazzle”
“Two years ago his nerves were worn to a frazzle over an attempt made to levy a tax.”
- A messy situation or scene.
“It ends with a splendid phone conversation between Robin and her mother. Robin (Laura Luz) is a frazzle of choreographed energy as her explanations are obviously leading to more trouble.”
“This is getting to be a real frazzle. We've had more odd characters running around here since that girl moved in than I have the patience to deal with”
verb
Etymology: Originally an East Anglian word. Either from a variant of the now obsolete fazle (“to unravel”), altered due to influence from fray, or from a blend of fazle and fray. fazle comes from earlier fasel, which was inherited from Middle English facelyn (“[of the end of a rope, or of cloth] to unravel”). Middle English facelyn was a verbal derivative of the noun fasylle (“frayed edge”), which was in turn a derivative (with the diminutive suffix -el) of Old English fæs (“fringe, border”), from Proto-West Germanic *fas, from Proto-Germanic *fasōn. Related to German Faser (“fibre”).
- To fray or wear down, especially at the edges.
“The new puppy has been chewing on everything, and my favorite afghan has become frazzled.”
“Frazle, to unravel or rend cloth. Frazlings, threads of cloth, torn or unravelled.”
- To drain emotionally or physically.
“After dealing with the children all day, I just can’t help feeling frazzled.”
“One’s garments get frazzled in the grass; one’s mind and body and spiritual sense sometimes become frazzled, torn to pieces, good-for-nothing.”