fringes
|frin-ges|
/ˈfrɪn.dʒɪz/
(fringe)
edge or border
Etymology
'fringe' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'frange' (also attested as 'fringe'), where the sense related to a 'tasselled edge' or 'broken threads'.
'fringe' changed from Old French 'frange' into Middle English forms such as 'fringe' or 'fringe' and eventually became the modern English word 'fringe'.
Initially, it meant 'a frayed or broken edge' (a border of loose threads); over time it evolved to include 'decorative border' and the figurative sense 'margin, periphery' now used in English.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
decorative border made of hanging threads, cords, or strips attached along an edge.
The curtains have ornate fringes along the bottom.
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Noun 2
the outer edge or margin of an area or group (the periphery rather than the center).
She lived on the fringes of the city for years.
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Noun 3
the extreme or marginal elements of a movement or group (often implying radical or unconventional views).
Political fringes criticized the compromise as insufficient.
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Last updated: 2025/12/05 19:25