triskellian: (knitting)
[personal profile] triskellian
Frog, verb. To unravel a piece of knitting. From rip (same meaning), via "rip it" and "ribbet".

How cool is that as an etymology?

(No, this isn't new knowledge for me, but I've just decided I have to frog my silly purple hat so I can reknit it smaller, and I'm reminded that I think the word is cool enough to share.)

Date: 2006-01-09 09:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] undyingking.livejournal.com
Maybe "frogging" has a similar etymology, from cloak (which you might put it on) via croak?

Date: 2006-01-09 10:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dyddgu.livejournal.com
Boringly, OED doesn't really know:
Of obscure origin; perh. ad. Pg. froco (repr. L. floccus FLOCK n.), which has much the same sense.

I like your explanation better...

Date: 2006-01-09 11:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bopeepsheep.livejournal.com
I wonder if it's moved to knitting from the sewing world, though, because unravelling knitting is much less like ripping than unpicking seams or embroidery is.

Date: 2006-01-09 11:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dyddgu.livejournal.com
It's possible you're being a bit more carefuly about it than I am! I am far more forceful with my knitting than I am with sewing, because the fabric I work with (when I can be arsed) tears too easily, so I end up picking seams very carefully indeed. /hate sewing

Date: 2006-01-09 11:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] metame.livejournal.com
But the tiny little device I always heard called 'quick unpick' (with the small bladed hooky thing) work very well, in case you haven't been using one.

I wonder if any classically trained TV engineers call ripping out signal cables "frogging"? (sorry)

Date: 2006-01-09 05:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ar-gemlad.livejournal.com
You didn't quite get the terminology right, I'm afraid. It's the small bladed hooky thing of doom.

Date: 2006-01-09 08:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dyddgu.livejournal.com
Yes, I have one of those, but don't often use it in the rip-up-the-seam way. Except with denim, when it does do that - I've been working with fine cotton lawn/linen/satin for a while, and I don't want to risk going zhoooooop! up them, in case they rip :-)

Also, Boom, boom!

Date: 2006-01-10 04:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sumbitch.livejournal.com
hee. happy frogging!

did you finish that lovely big thing you were knitting when you were here?

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