Definitions

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

  • intransitive verb slang to eat copiously and without restraint; to snack frequently.

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

  • verb To eat without restraint; eat heartily.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb eat a lot and without restraint

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Yiddish פרעסן (fresn) or German fressen ("to devour, gobble"), from Middle High German vrezzen, from Old High German frezzan ("to devour, eat up"), from Proto-Germanic *fraetanan (“to eat up”), from Proto-Germanic *fra- (intensive and perfective prefix) + Proto-Germanic *etanan (“to eat”), equivalent to for- +‎ eat. Cognate with Old English fretan ("to devour"). More at fret.

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Examples

Comments

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  • To gobble up food; to gorge oneself. "To eat quickly or noisily, like an animal".

    August 3, 2020

  • See also fressen.

    August 3, 2020

  • Thanks for this clarification, bilby. "Humans essen and animals fressen." Easy and worth remembering!

    August 4, 2020

  • have no fear

    vendy dear

    everything's clear

    when bilby's here

    August 7, 2020