frolic
UK[ˈfrɒlɪk]US[ˈfrɑːlɪk]
v
to play and move about in a cheerful, lively, and energetic way
n
light-hearted fun or play; a playful or lively act or instance
Etymology
the word 'frolic' entered english in the early 16th century from the dutch 'vrolijk', meaning 'cheerful' or 'merry'. this dutch term is related to the middle low german 'vrolik' and the old high german 'frō', meaning 'happy' or 'glad', which can be traced back to a proto-germanic root. the semantic journey is direct, moving from a general state of happiness to the specific, energetic, and playful behavior the word describes today. its adoption reflects the linguistic exchange between english and low countries dialects during the early modern period.
Analysis
the word is a simplex unit derived from the dutch adjective 'vrolijk', meaning 'cheerful' or 'merry'. it entered english as a whole and is not productively segmented into smaller morphemes in modern english.
Examples
the children frolicked on the beach all afternoon.
the lambs' frolic in the meadow was a delightful sight.
the party had an atmosphere of carefree frolic.