frisk

views updated May 21 2018

frisk / frisk/ • v. 1. [tr.] (of a police officer or other official) pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons, drugs, or other items.2. [intr.] (of an animal or person) skip or leap playfully; frolic: this did not deter the foal from frisking about. ∎  [tr.] (of an animal) move or wave (its tail or legs) playfully: a horse was frisking his back legs like a colt.• n. 1. [in sing.] an act of frisking someone.2. a playful skip or leap.DERIVATIVES: frisk·er n.

Frisk

views updated May 29 2018

FRISK

A term used incriminal lawto refer to the superficial running of the hands over the body of an individual by a law enforcement agent or official in order to determine whether such individual is holding an illegal object, such as a weapon or narcotics. A frisk is distinguishable from a search, which is a more extensive examination of an individual.

cross-references

Stop and Frisk.

frisk

views updated Jun 27 2018

frisk move briskly and sportively. XVI. f. frisk adj. brisk, lively — OF. frisque vigorous, lively, of unkn. orig.