Etymologically
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fridge

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /fɹɪd͡ʒ/[1]

Etymology

It is a shortened and altered form of refrigerator,[2][3][4] an unusual kind of word-formation in English,[2] perhaps influenced by Frigidaire (1919), a popular early brand of self-contained refrigerator,[2][5][3] a name suggesting Latin frigidarium, a cooling room in a bath.[2] Merriam-Webster thinks it probably an alteration of frig.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A refrigerator: 1926.[2][3][6]

Semantic evolution

Frigerator as a colloquial shortening is attested by 1886.[2] The form frig was also used.[4] The fridge-freezer, combining a refrigerator and a freezer, is from 1971.[3]

Timeline

  • 1886 – frigerator.[2]
  • 1919 – Frigidaire.[2]
  • 1926 – fridge.[3]
  • 1971 – fridge-freezer.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (informal) A refrigerator.
  • refrigerator
  • frigid
  • freezer

Usage notes

A different verb fridge, to fidget, or to rub or chafe, apparently imitative, is from the mid-16th century and survives in northern and Midland dialect.[3][4][7]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)