Main Entry: ¹fringe

Pronunciation: \ˈfrinj\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English frenge, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *frimbia, from Latin fimbriae (plural)

Date: 14th century

1 : an ornamental border consisting of short straight or twisted threads or strips hanging from cut or raveled edges or from a separate band
2 a : something resembling a fringe : edge, periphery —often used in plural <operated on the fringes of the law> b chiefly British : ⁴bang c : one of various light or dark bands produced by the interference or diffraction of light d : an area bordering a putting green on a golf course with grass trimmed longer than on the green itself
3 a : something that is marginal, additional, or secondary to some activity, process, or subject <a fringe sport> b : a group with marginal or extremist views c : fringe benefit

— fringy \ˈfrin-jē\ adjective