frass

noun

ˈfras How to pronounce frass (audio)
: debris or excrement produced by insects

Examples of frass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Seeing frass usually means the colony has been there for at least two years. — Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026 Any squash plant that wilts overnight should be inspected; look for entrance holes at the base of plants and the presence of sawdust-like frass. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2025 In contrast to dusty frass, aphids slurp sap so rich in sugar that their feces coats surrounding surfaces in, essentially, maple syrup. — Steven Sullivan, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2025 Larger trees may simply have more insects to drop frass, which could impact the results if tree sizes weren’t standardized between forest types. — Ethan Freedman, Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frass

Word History

Etymology

German, insect damage, literally, eating away, from Old High German vrāz food, from frezzan to devour — more at fret

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frass was in 1854

Rhymes for frass

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Browse Nearby Words

Frasnian
frass
frat
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Cite this Entry

“Frass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frass. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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