Definition of frazzle

The origin of the word "frazzle" can be traced back to the late 19th century in Scotland, where it was originally used to describe the frayed ends of ropes or wires. The term "frazzle" is derived from the verb "fray," which means to fray or wear the edges of something by continued use or exposure. The first recorded use of the word "frazzle" to describe a person's mental or emotional state came in the early 1900s. It was used to refer to someone who is mentally or emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, or somewhat frayed around the edges. The term has since been ingrained in the English language, primarily in the United States, as a colloquial word meaning to mentally or emotionally unravel or exhaust oneself. The exact origin of the word's meaning expansion from "fray" to "frazzle" is somewhat unclear, as the earliest recorded use of the term in its expanded context is undocumented. However, given its derivation from the verb "fray," it's possible that the link between the frayed ends of ropes and the mentally frayed nature of persons came from the way that those ends themselves seem to fray or wear at the edges continuously due to continued use or exposure. In any case, "frazzle" has become a widely used colloquial term in the English language, particularly in the United States, where it's commonly used to describe a person who has become overwhelmed, stressed out, or mentally exhausted to the point of being somewhat frayed or frayed around the edges.