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.
Visible borer adults, pupae, or larvae, and sawdust-like borer frass can sometimes be spotted near affected trees or in the larval galleries beneath ash bark. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026 Finding frass on tomato leaves or the soil below your plants is sometimes easier than finding the green hornworm perfectly camouflaged among the green vines. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026 Seeing frass usually means the colony has been there for at least two years. — Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026 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 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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