a language spoken in the NW Netherlands, parts of N Germany, and adjacent islands, belonging to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family: the nearest relative of the English language; it has three main dialects
2.
a native or inhabitant of Friesland or a speaker of the Frisian language
adjective
3.
a.
of or relating to the Frisian language or its speakers
b.
of or relating to Friesland or its peoples and culture
Word origin
C16: from Latin Frīsiī people of northern Germany
Frisian in American English
(ˈfrɪʒən; ˈfriʒən)
noun
1.
a person born or living in Friesland or the Frisian Islands
2.
a member of an ancient Germanic tribe of N Holland
3.
the West Germanic language spoken by the Frisians, closely related to Dutch and Old English
adjective
4.
designating or of Friesland or the Frisian Islands, or their people, language, or culture
Word origin
< L Frisii, the Frisians < OFris Frisa < Gmc *frisi, curl: so named from their hair style