frounce Meaning, Definition & Usage

Frounce intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. frouncen, fronsen, to told, wrinkle, OF. froncier, F. froncer, perh. fr. an assumed LL. frontiare to wrinkle the forehead, L. frons forehead. See Front, and cf. Flounce part of a dress.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Frounced ; present participle & verbal noun Frouncing
Definitions
  1. To gather into or adorn with plaits, as a dress; to form wrinkles in or upon; to curl or frizzle, as the hair.
    Not tricked and frounced, as she was wont. Milton.
Frounce intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To form wrinkles in the forehead; to manifest displeasure; to frown. Obs.
    The Commons frounced and stormed. Holland.
Frounce noun
Definitions
  1. A wrinkle, plait, or curl; a flounce; -- also, a frown. Obs. Beau. & Fl.
  2. An affection in hawks, in which white spittle gathers about the hawk's bill. Booth.

Webster 1913