frump
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A slatternly woman, a gossip.—Ancient. In modern slang it is the feminine of FOGEY, and means a prim old lady, who is generally termed "a regular old FRUMP."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “frump” mean?
A slatternly woman, a gossip.—Ancient. In modern slang it is the feminine of FOGEY, and means a prim old lady, who is generally termed "a regular old FRUMP."
Is “frump” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.