Etymologically
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freak

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /fɹiːk/; /fɹiːk/ (UK); /fɹik/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is of uncertain or unknown origin,[2][3][4] perhaps a dialect survival of a word related to Middle English friken, to move briskly, from Old English frician (“to dance”),[2][3] or from Middle English freke, a bold man, warrior (Old English freca), in phrases such as the freaks of Fortune.[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

A sudden, causeless change of mind, a whim: 1563,[6][3] given currency by Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590).[3]

Semantic evolution

A freking, apparently capricious behaviour, is recorded in the mid-15th century.[2] Capriciousness is from 1678, and a capricious prank from 1724, in Gay.[3][6] An unusual thing, a fancy, is from 1784, in Cowper.[3][2] An abnormal individual or monstrosity is from 1839–47, in freak of nature (Latin lusus naturae),[2][3][6] later popular in advertisements of variety shows.[2] An enthusiast for something, a jazz freak, is from 1908,[6][7] and a drug user from 1967.[6][8] The verb, to change or distort, is from 1911,[2] and freak out is from the 1960s.[5][8]

Timeline

  • 1563 – a whim.[6]
  • 1724 – a prank.[3]
  • 1784 – an oddity.[3]
  • 1847 – a monstrosity.[6]
  • 1908 – an enthusiast.[6]
  • 1964 – to freak out.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person, animal or plant that is abnormal in form; a monstrosity.
  2. A very unusual thing or event: a freak storm.
  3. A sudden whim.
  4. (informal) An enthusiast: a fitness freak.
  5. (informal) A person who dresses or acts very unconventionally.

Verb

  1. (informal, often freak out) To become or make very frightened, angry or upset.

Word family

  • freaked
  • ecofreak
  • freakish
  • freak-out
  • freaky
  • phreak
  • control freak
  • freak of nature
  • freckle

Usage notes

A separate freak, a fleck or streak of colour, and the verb to streak (1630s), may be related to freckle.[8][5][2] Scots freik, a bold man or warrior, is from Middle English freke.[2]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  8. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin