Frisian

1 of 2

adjective

Fri·​sian ˈfri-zhən How to pronounce Frisian (audio) ˈfrē- How to pronounce Frisian (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Friesland, the Frisians, or Frisian

Frisian

2 of 2

noun

1
: a member of a people that inhabit principally the Netherlands province of Friesland and the Frisian islands in the North Sea
2
: the Germanic language of the Frisian people

Examples of Frisian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Some Italian immigrants, however, were the descendants of slaves brought back to Rome from colonized territories and are thus victims of colonization if there is at least one drop of Gaulish or Frisian or Celtic blood in their DNA profile. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 The ruins were Frisian, built by a group of Germanic-speaking people from the coasts of what is now Germany and the Netherlands in the 12th century C.E. Joshua Learn, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin Frisius Frisian; akin to Old English Frīsa, Frēsa a Frisian

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Frisian was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near Frisian

Cite this Entry

“Frisian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Frisian. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Frisian

noun
Fri·​sian
ˈfrizh-ən,
ˈfrē-zhən
1
: a member of a people that live mainly in the Netherlands province of Friesland and the Frisian Islands in the North Sea
2
: the Germanic language of the Frisian people

More from Merriam-Webster on Frisian

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!