frock
frock
Pronunciation
A single-syllable word, "frock" has the following phonetic spelling and word form variations:
🗣️ Phonetic Spelling
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic spelling for "frock" is:
/frɒk/ (British English)
/frɑːk/ or /frɑk/ (American English)
🔊 Syllable Breakdown
The word "frock" consists of one syllable:
frock:
f (voiceless labiodental fricative)
r (voiced alveolar approximant)
ɒ (open-mid back rounded vowel) or ɑ (open back unrounded vowel)
k (voiceless velar stop)
Word Form Variations
The common word form variations for "frock" include:
Noun (Singular): frock
Noun (Plural): frocks
Verb (Base Form): frock
Verb (Third Person Singular Present): frocks
Verb (Present Participle): frocking
Verb (Past Tense / Past Participle): frocked
Note: The verbs "defrock" and "unfrock" are also related terms, meaning to remove a cleric from office, which stems from the 'frock' as a clerical habit.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A one-piece garment for a girl or woman, consisting of a bodice and skirt, typically one worn for a special or semi-formal occasion.
Synonyms: dress, gown, shift, ensemble, attire
Antonyms: trousers, slacks, separates
A long, loose outer garment worn by a monk, priest, or other cleric as a religious habit.
Synonyms: habit, robe, vestment, cassock, cowl
Antonyms: (Context dependent, often none directly applicable, but could be related to items of secular clothing)
Verb (Transitive)
To clothe or dress someone in a frock, often used in a figurative or literary sense.
Synonyms: attire, robe, garment, accouter
Antonyms: disrobe, undress, divest, strip
Examples of Use
Books
"Unexpectedly, Selina's godmother in America sends her a present - a party frock and shoes. It is Selina's first long party dress, but there are no opportunities to wear it in an English village at the end of a long war." (Noel Streatfeild, Party Frock, 1946)
The children's book Bill's New Frock by Anne Fine, first published in 1989, concerns a young boy who wakes up to find he has transformed into a girl and is forced to go to school in a pink dress.
The term frock consciousness—an awareness of one's clothing and the social implications of wearing it—is a concept coined by Virginia Woolf and explored in literary criticism and fashion studies. (As discussed in "Frock Consciousness": Virginia Woolf, the Open Secret, and the Language of Fashion, 1999)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"The word may be used as an alternative term for a girl's or woman's dress, in particular for a dress suitable for a smart occasion but (in UK English usage) with a hemline higher than a full-length ballgown." (Wikipedia, June 2025)
In one article, a fashion columnist noted that the Duchess of Cambridge "looked demure in a cream silk frock" while attending a royal event.
An older publication from the early 20th century featured an engraving and article about the "Persuasive Picture Frock at Peter Robinson's, Oxford Street, London" (The Queen, The Lady's Newspaper and Court Chronicle, March 1904).
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
The film and television industry uses the phrase "Frock Flicks" as an informal term and a website name for historical costume dramas that often feature elaborate gowns, or "frocks," as a central element of their appeal.
A clothing and merchandise section on a major retail website advertises various women's apparel using the word, such as a "Women Rockabilly Vintage Swing Frock Lace Trim Halloween Skater Dress." (Walmart, November 2025)
The title of the fine art piece "Laurelle's Frock" indicates a painting that features a woman's dress as a key subject.
General Public Discourse
In Australian public discourse, the phrase "to frock up" is frequently used, meaning "to wear a formal dress or gown for a special occasion."
In discussions concerning the clergy, the term remains relevant in the verb form defrock, as in: "The bishop was prepared to defrock the priest following the ethics investigation."
A magazine dedicated to the drag and transgender communities is called Frock Magazine, using the term to refer to the act of dressing and transformation.
10 Famous Quotes Using Frock
“Time is short and full, like an outgrown Frock.” (Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson)
“A great, fat, flabby thing that seemed to be all white frock and curls.” (L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables)
“It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire—how little it is in a frock or a feather.” (Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey)
“The truth is that the greatest event in the history of the world was the day I tore my best frock.” (Vita Sackville-West)
“Great, that’s just what this country needs: a cock in a frock on a rock.” (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, 1994)
“I thought that the woman I was looking at in the glass was the one whose pink silk frock was perfectly right for the occasion, whose nose was not shiny, whose hair was neat.” (Virginia Woolf, The New Dress)
“I want a new frock every Saturday night; and I want to go to the music-halls every night.” (George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession)
“The black frock fitted [Harriet] like a glove; it was made with a small square yoke and long, close sleeves, softened by a wristfrill.” (Dorothy Sayers, Gaudy Night)
“She was attired in a light blue silk frock, and she looked to be very good-looking indeed, and it had been borne in upon me for some time that she was one of the finest girls I had ever seen.” (P.G. Wodehouse, The Girl on the Boat)
“When the surgeon appeared, he operated in a blood-stiffened frock coat—the stiffer the coat, the prouder the busy surgeon.” (Richard Gordon, Great Medical Disasters)
Etymology
The word frock has an ancient and international history that originally centered on a specific type of loose, long outer garment worn by men, which gradually shifted to describe a woman's dress.
Origins and Early Meaning
Germanic Roots: The ultimate origin of "frock" is thought to be a Germanic word, possibly from Old Frankish *hroc, which meant "coat" or "skirt." This root is also related to the modern German word Rock ("skirt" or "coat").
Old French Connection: The word entered English through the Old French term froc (pronounced frōk). In French, froc specifically referred to the habit or robe worn by a monk or friar. This was a loose, coarse, long-sleeved garment.
First Known Use in English
First Appearance: The word entered Middle English around the 1300s.
Original Meaning in English: Its primary meaning in English initially mirrored the French: a coarse outer garment or robe worn by a member of a religious order.
Clerical Influence: This ecclesiastical meaning is why the related verbs "defrock" or "unfrock" still exist, meaning to officially remove a priest or monk from their clerical office—literally, to take away their religious robe.
Evolution to a Woman's Dress
Over time, the word frock began to be applied to other loose, coat-like garments worn by peasants and laborers (a "smock-frock").
By the 16th century (and gaining popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries), the term expanded its meaning to refer to a woman's or girl's dress, specifically a more comfortable, informal, or unfitted style of gown. This is the common modern meaning, especially in British English and Commonwealth countries, though it can often be used for any dress, particularly one worn for a special occasion.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Frock
Common and Lesser-Known Phrases (Garment Meaning)
Party Frock: A common descriptive phrase for a relatively formal or special occasion frock worn to a social gathering. (e.g., She spent all morning choosing the perfect party frock.)
To Frock Up: An established phrase, particularly in Australian English, meaning to put on a formal dress or gown for a special event. (e.g., It's time to frock up for the ball.)
Sunday Frock: A phrase historically used to describe a girl's best frock or dress, reserved for wearing to church or on special Sunday outings.
Frock Consciousness: A literary and academic phrase, originating with Virginia Woolf, describing the intense awareness a person has of their clothes and the social and psychological impact of that garment.
What the Frock?: An original, humorous, or euphemistic exclamation of surprise or disbelief, playing on "What the heck?" or "What the f?"
Phrases and Idioms with the Clerical Meaning (Robe)
To Defrock / Unfrock: While not an idiom, this is the most common use of the root word as a verb, meaning to strip a cleric of their office or priestly authority. (e.g., The bishop voted to defrock the controversial priest.)
In the Frock: A concise phrase meaning "wearing the clerical habit" or, figuratively, "holding a religious office." (e.g., The new father was already confident in the frock.)
Phrases Using Synonyms (For Similar Effect)
Dressed to the Nines: (Using the synonym dressed) Meaning fully and impeccably dressed, often in a stylish or extravagant manner (a common situation for wearing a fine frock).
Put on One's Best Bib and Tucker: (Using synonyms for clothes) To put on one's finest clothing, similar to putting on a Sunday frock or party frock.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: (Using the synonym clothing) An idiom for someone who appears harmless or good but is, in fact, dangerous, which can be applied to someone whose plain frock hides a sinister nature.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of frock from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
