frolic

Meanings

Adjective

• Merry, joyous, full of mirth; later especially, frolicsome, sportive, full of playful mischief.
• Free; liberal; bountiful; generous.

Verb

• To make merry; to have fun; to romp; to behave playfully and uninhibitedly.
• To cause to be merry.

Noun

• Gaiety; merriment.
• A playful antic.
• A social gathering.

Origin

• From Dutch vrolijk ("cheerful"), from Middle Dutch vrolijc, from Old Dutch frōlīk, from Proto-Germanic *frawalīkaz. Compare German fröhlich ("blitheful, gaily, happy, merry").
• The first element, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *frawaz, is cognate with Middle English frow ("hasty"); the latter element, ultimately from *-līkaz, is cognate with -ly, -like.