fridge

Etymology 1

The noun is a clipping of refrigerator, perhaps influenced by the Frigidaire brand of refrigerators, or frigerator (“(dated) refrigerator”). The spelling is likely influenced by analogy with bridge, ridge, etc. The verb is derived from the noun. The fandom slang verb sense alludes to the phrase "women in refrigerators" coined by the American comic book writer Gail Simone. Simone was referencing a plot point in Green Lantern (volume 3, issue 54, 1994), in which the Green Lantern's girlfriend is murdered by a villain, and her body placed in a refrigerator for him to find.

noun

1. (informal) A refrigerator.
   Sweet broccolini with tofu, sesame, and cilantro […] First, marinate the tofu. In a bowl, whisk the soy sauce, chile sauce, and sesame oil together. Cut the tofu into strips about ⅜ inch / 1 cm thick, mix gently (so it doesn't break) with the marinade, and leave in the fridge for half an hour. 2008, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, “Vegetables, Legumes, and Grains”, in Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, New York, N.Y.: Ten Speed Press, published 2013

verb

1. (transitive, informal) To place (something) inside a refrigerator to chill; to refrigerate.
   I had turned up with a bottle, which the hostess, Celia, had duly fridged, but everyone else had opted for camomile tea, making me feel like the biggest lush in south London. 2007, Lucy Diamond [pseudonym; Sue Mongredien], Any Way You Want Me, London: Pan Books, page 201
   He munched and sipped, wished the soda was cold. Should have fridged it. 2013, Jeffery Deaver, chapter 27, in The October List[…], New York, N.Y., Boston, Mass.: Grand Central Publishing
   If you don't have two [baking] stones, bake it in two different batches, fridging your remaining doughs whilst you wait. 2013, James Morton, “Advanced Yeasted Breads”, in Brilliant Bread, London: Ebury Press, page 134, column 2
2. (transitive, fandom slang) To gratuitously kill, disempower, or otherwise remove (a character, usually female) from a narrative, often strictly to hurt another character (usually male) and motivate vengeance.
   The backing cast are also all excellent, as expected considering the calibre of actors attached to the film – Andrea Riseborough is a very good example, playing a fascinating cop who really didn't deserve to be ‘fridged’ (meaning: removed from the action so that the men can do their manly things). 26 April 2013, Siobhan Whitebread, “Welcome to the Punch: A Little Less Conversation [film review]”, in Sophie Harrison, editor, Spark*: The University of Reading’s Student Newspaper, volume 63, number 1, Reading, Berkshire: Reading University Students’ Union, →OCLC, page 15, column 5
   In terms of villains, familiar characters haven't been fridged but they've been rather sexualized. 2014, Tim Hanley, “The Mundane Modern Age”, in Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World’s Most Famous Heroine, Chicago, Ill.: Chicago Review Press, part 3 (The Bronze Age), page 240
   Gwen [Stacy] dying is as big a part of Spider-Man's storyline as Uncle Ben dying. But originally, she was fridged, long before that was a thing. Gwen was something of a pretty nonentity in the comics, her death really only served the purpose of hurting Peter. She died a victim, yanked around by other characters. 1 June 2014, Dave Van Domelen, “Dave’s Capsules for May 2014”, in alt.toys.transformers (Usenet)
   There’s more than a hint of fridging to Missandei's death, as she leaves behind a grief-stricken Grey Worm along with Daenerys [Targaryen]. 5 May 2019, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2021-01-28
   2022-03-12, Rich Johnston, “Gail Simone's "Fridging" Becomes Official DC Comics Terminology”, in Bleeding Cool, retrieved 2022-03-12:

Etymology 2

Probably imitative of the sound of chafing or rubbing.

verb

1. (transitive, archaic, chiefly Britain, dialectal) To chafe or rub (something).
2. (intransitive, obsolete)
   1. To chafe or rub.
   2. Synonym of fidge (“to jostle or shake; to fidget, to fig, to frig”)