Frisco

See also: frisco

English

Alternative forms

(California city): 'frisco, 'Frisco

Etymology

Abbreviation of San Francisco through shortening by omission of syllables. “Frisco City” was chosen as the name of the Texas city by its residents in 1904 in honor of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway that was being built through the area, commonly called “the Frisco”.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈfɹɪskoʊ/
Audio (US): (file)

Proper noun

Frisco

(slang) A nickname for San Francisco: a city in California, United States.
- 1872, "Emperor" Joshua A. Norton, Edict:
  Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.
- 1968, Otis Redding (lyrics and music), “(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay”:
  Left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay,
  I had nothin' to live for, looks like nothin's gonna come my way,
  I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay, watchin' the tide roll away,
  sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time.
- 1978 September 8, Mick Jackson, David Jackson, Elmar Krohn (lyrics and music), “Blame It on the Boogie”, in Destiny, performed by the Jacksons, track 1:
  My baby's always dancin' and it wouldn't be a bad thing / But I don't get no lovin' and that's no lie / We spent the night in Frisco at every kinda disco / From that night, I kissed our love goodbye
- 2009, Violent J, Miracles (Insane Clown Posse song):
  I fed a fish to a pelican at Frisco Bay
A city in Texas, United States, within the greater Dallas–Fort Worth area.

Usage notes

(California city): This term is rarely used in California today and may be considered insulting by some residents of the city; however, it does maintain some currency within San Francisco's Black community.

Derived terms

Related terms