Origin: 1325–75; Middle English frenge < Old French (French frange) < Vulgar Latin *frimbia, metathetic variant of Late Latin fimbria,Latin fimbriae fringe
Related forms
fringe·less, adjective
fringe·like, adjective
fring·y, adjective
un·der·fringe, noun
un·fringe, verb (used with object), -fringed, -fring·ing.
mid-14c., from O.Fr. frenge (1316), from V.L. *frimbia, metathesis of L. fimbriæ (pl.) ibers, threads, fringe," of uncertain origin. Figurative sense of "outer edge, margin," is first recorded 1894. As a verb, from late 15c. Related: Fringed; fringes. Fringe benefits is recorded from 1952.