verb / noun
frisk
FRISK/frɪsk/
A search of someone's clothing for hidden items.
The officer frisks the suspect for weapons beside the patrol car.
Etymology
The 'lively' ancestor first underlay a verb meaning 'dance or frolic'; the clothing-search sense appeared later. The supplied history does not explain how the movement sense became a search by touch.
In context
Frisk where you're just going to throw someone up against the wall and search their pockets
More examples
- A quick frisk reveals a knife hidden under his jacket.
- The guard frisked each visitor before granting entry.
- Officers found nothing during the frisk.
Forms
frisk · frisks · frisked · frisking
Similar words
- search
- Search covers a wider range of places and methods.
- pat-down
- Pat-down specifically emphasizes feeling over clothing with the hands.