frou-froun.
/ˈfruːfruː/, U.S. /ˈfruˌfru/ A rustling, esp. the rustling of a dress.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [noun] > rustling
whisping1379
rustlinga1387
flushinga1398
ruffling1440
stichling?1553
brustling1589
rustle1624
rash1671
titter1853
fidget1860
gush1866
reesle1866
frou-frou1870
silking1871
1870 Athenæum 4 June 734 The modern frou-frou of satin and gros-de-Naples skirts is nothing to the rustling of brocaded silks.
1871 M. Collins Marquis & Merchant III. v. 155 With a frou-frou of soft silk she arose.
1891 Speaker 2 May 527/1 The rustle of the dresses, the frou-frou of the fans.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
frou-frouv.
/ˈfruːfruː/, U.S. /ˈfruˌfru/ intransitive. To move about with a rustle of draperies. Only in frou-frouing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [verb (intransitive)] > rustle
brustlec1275
rustlea1387
stichle?a1513
whistle1633
fissle1721
crinkle1878
frou-frouing1905
1905 Truth 18 May 1289/2 Frou-frouing femininities.
1909 M. B. Saunders Litany Lane ii. xvii She found herself floating and frou-frouing up Majorson's monastic stairs.
1958 A. Wilson Middle Age of Mrs Eliot ii. 166 Up those stairs should have come frou-frouing skirts.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1870v.1905