Word of the day

[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.)

Comments

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Maybe "frogging" has a similar etymology, from cloak (which you might put it on) via croak?

[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...

[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.

[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

[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)

[ar-gemlad.livejournal.com]

You didn't quite get the terminology right, I'm afraid. It's the small bladed hooky thing of doom.

[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!

[sumbitch.livejournal.com]

hee. happy frogging!

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