frizz

Etymology 1

From Middle English frysen, from Old French friser, frizer (“to frizzle, crisp, curl, ruffle, braid, touch lightly, graze, scratch”), of Proto-Germanic origin, perhaps via Old Frankish *fris (“curl”), from Proto-Germanic *frisaz (“frizzy, curly”). Cognate with Old Frisian frisle, frēsle ("the hair of the head, lock of hair, curl, ringlet"; > North Frisian friessle, fressle (“hair, horse's tail”), West Frisian frisseljen (“braid of hair, braid”)), Old English frīs (“crisped, curled”).

verb

1. (intransitive) Of hair, to form into a mass of tight curls.
2. (transitive) To curl; to make frizzy.
   In labour-saving homes, with care, / Their wives frizz out peroxide hair. 1937, John Betjeman, Slough
3. To form into little burs, knobs, or tufts, as the nap of cloth.
4. To make (leather) soft and of even thickness by rubbing, as with pumice stone or a blunt instrument.
5. To fry, cook, or sear with a sizzling noise; to sizzle.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fryse, from the verb. See above.

noun

1. A mass of tightly curled or unruly hair.