Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 frox, forsc, 3–4 frosse, 3–5 frosk(e, 3, 5–6 frosche, 4–5 frossh(e, 5–7 frosh, 8–9 dial. frosk. Pl. 3 frosse. [See FROG sb.1] A frog.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. viii. 4. To þe and to þinum folce and in to eallum þinum þeowum gað þa froxas.
a. 1240. Sawles Warde, in Cott. Hom., 251. Neddren ant eauraskes [v. rr. eaureskes, eafroskes].
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2969. Ðo cam ðor up swilc froskes here ðe ðede al folc egipte dere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 5928. Þat toþer on-com þat him fell Was frosse þat na tung moght tell.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. lxxvii. 45. He sente in … a frogge [v. r. frosshe], and it destroȝede them.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 1081. His frount and his forheuede, alle was it ouer, As the felle of a froske.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 37. The frosshis … complayned that they had none lorde.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., XV. (1593), 356. The mud hath in it certaine seed whereof greene froshes rise.
1674–91. Ray, N. C. Words (E. D. S.), Frosh, a frog.
1690. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 288. It is order’d in Councel yt no allowance be given him to slutch ye frosse lake.
1781. Hutton, Tour to Caves, Gloss., Frosk.
1821. Mrs. Wheeler, Cumbld. Dial., App. 7. Thou cuddent tell me be a frosk, at hed been hung up beeth heels ith’ sunshine, an dryt to deeth.
1869. Peacock, Lonsdale Gloss., Frosg, Frosk.
1873. Swaledale Gloss., Frosk.
