Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Fussy or showy dress or ornamentation.
  • noun A rustling sound, as of silk.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A rustling, particularly the rustling of silk, as in a woman's dress: as, the silken frou-frou of her movements.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A rustling, esp. the rustling of a woman's dress.
  • noun showy or frilly ornamentation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of frou-frou.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, of imitative origin.]

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Examples

  • Their immaculate socks with the separate great toes make no noise; nothing is heard, as they glide by, but a 'froufrou' of silken stuffs.

    The French Immortals Series — Complete Various

  • Their immaculate socks with the separate great toes make no noise; nothing is heard, as they glide by, but a 'froufrou' of silken stuffs.

    Madame Chrysantheme — Complete Pierre Loti 1886

  • Aesthetically, the resulting works lie halfway between Victorian froufrou and the obsessive-compulsive artwork produced by the mentally challenged.

    2009 March : Scrubbles.net 2009

  • Aesthetically, the resulting works lie halfway between Victorian froufrou and the obsessive-compulsive artwork produced by the mentally challenged.

    Book Review: This Is For You : Scrubbles.net 2009

  • Mr. Valli, who started his line in ready-to-wear six years ago after designing for Emanuel Ungaro , played a part, creating froufrou confections for society women.

    Couture Awakens to Dreamy Looks Christina Passariello 2011

  • No amount of strapless dresses or froufrou fashion would convince Ava to just shake hands and leave it all behind us, and I would never admit defeat to her.

    FRONT PAGE FACE-OFF Jo Whittemore 2010

  • According to John Richardson's book, Sacred Monsters, Sacred Masters, she disdained the fin-de-siecle froufrou (dust cathers, to be sure) and maintained a low-key style, whose principle was "Elegance is elimination."

    Archive 2008-02-01 Linda 2008

  • According to John Richardson's book, Sacred Monsters, Sacred Masters, she disdained the fin-de-siecle froufrou (dust cathers, to be sure) and maintained a low-key style, whose principle was "Elegance is elimination."

    Cleanliness: A Matter of Beauty Linda 2008

  • I hope you love this pasta dish -- it's quick, delicious and earth-friendly, using every bit of the cauliflower, no froufrou florets, no waste.

    Ellen Kanner: Meatless Monday: A New Year's Resolution of Biblical Proportions 2010

  • Gladioli timesThe gladioli has a tendency towards the frilly and the froufrou, but lots are delicate and there is still time to plant them for late summer spires of colour.

    In the garden this week: Net fruit bushes, plus gladioli times 2010

Comments

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  • French, for the rustling of silk.

    January 14, 2007