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...