n. [ L. asteriscus, Gr. &unr_;, dim. of
n. A raccoonlike omnivorous mammal (Bassariscus astutus) of Mexico and southwestern U. S. having a long bushy tail with black and white rings.
a. [ Cf. W. brysg, fr. brys haste, Gael. briosg quick, lively, Ir. broisg a start, leap, jerk. ]
Cheerily, boys; be brick awhile. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Brisk toil alternating with ready ease. Wordworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. & i.
v. to become brisk.
n. [ OE. bruskette, OF. bruschet, F. bréchet, brichet; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. brysced the breast of a slain animal, brisket, Corn. vrys breast, Armor. brusk, bruched, the front of the chest, Gael. brisgein the cartilaginous part of a bone. ] That part of the breast of an animal which extends from the fore legs back beneath the ribs; also applied to the fore part of a horse, from the shoulders to the bottom of the chest. [ See Illust. of Beef. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a brisk manner; nimbly. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Liveliness; vigor in action; quickness; gayety; vivacity; effervescence. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ OF. frieque, cf. OHG. frise lively, brisk, fresh, Dan. & Sw. frisk, Icel. friskr. See Fresh, a. ] Lively; brisk; frolicsome; frisky. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. A frolic; a fit of wanton gayety; a gambol: a little playful skip or leap. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
The frisking satyrs on the summits danced. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To search (a person) for concealed weapons or other objects, by patting the clothing to detect objects underneath;
n. A leap or caper. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who frisks; one who leaps of dances in gayety; a wanton; an inconstant or unsettled person. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F. frisguette. Perhaps so named from the velocity or frequency of its motion. See Frisk a. ] (Print.) The light frame which holds the sheet of paper to the tympan in printing. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Brisk; lively; frolicsome. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a frisky manner. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. State or quality of being frisky. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The act or process of searching someone for concealed weapons.
a. Inclined to frisk; frolicsome; gay. [ 1913 Webster ]
He is too frisky for an old man. Jeffrey. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Grise a pig + -kin. ] The spine of a hog. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Same as Morisco. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ From
Oriskany period,
n. [ F. risque; cf. It. risco, risico, rischio, Pg. risco, Sp. riesgo, and also Sp. risco a steep rock; all probably fr. L. resceare to cut off; pref. re- re- + secare to cut; -- the word having been probably first used among sailors. See Section. ]
The imminent and constant risk of assassination, a risk which has shaken very strong nerves. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
To run a risk,
v. t.
n. One who risks or hazards. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Risky. [ R. ] Geddes. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Attended with risk or danger; hazardous. “A risky matter.” W. Collins. [ 1913 Webster ]
Generalization are always risky. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]
Risk of injury, destruction, or loss by the sea, or while at sea. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. tamariscus, also tamarix, tamarice, Skr. tamāla, tamālaka, a tree with a very dark bark; cf. tamas darkness: cf. F. tamarisc, tamarix, tamaris. ] (Bot.) Any shrub or tree of the genus
Tamarisk salt tree,