frazzle
pronunciation
How to pronounce frazzle in British English:
UK [ˈfræzl]
How to pronounce frazzle in American English:
US ['fræzl]
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- Noun:
- a state of extreme exhaustion
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- Verb:
- wear away by rubbing
- exhaust physically or emotionally
Word Origin
- frazzle (v.)
- c. 1825, "to unravel" (of clothing), from East Anglian variant of 17c. fasel "to unravel, fray" (as the end of a rope), from Middle English facelyn "to fray" (mid-15c.), from fasylle "fringe, frayed edge," diminutive of Old English fæs "fringe, border." Related: Frazzled, frazzling. Compare German Faser "thread, fiber, filament," Middle Dutch vese "fringe, fiber, chaff." Probably influenced in form by fray (v.).
- frazzle (n.)
- "worn-out condition," 1865, American English, from frazzle (v.).
Example
- 1. The meat has been burnt to a frazzle .
- 2. She forgot to watch the frying pan and the bacon was burned to a frazzle .
- 3. There he goes again coughing himself to a frazzle .
- 4. He was beaten to a frazzle during the last election campaign .
- 5. I went to answer the phone and when I came back the eggs were burned to a frazzle .