Friskings

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹɪskɪŋz/

Definitions

1. To search someone's clothing for concealed items or weapons using a light pat-down
2. to perform a casual search of a person's pockets or bags for any hidden objects
3. engaging in a light, playful touch or search of someone's body, typically in a non-threatening manner

Etymology: "Friskings" is simply the plural of "frisking," the noun for a quick search of a person's body for concealed objects. The plural form is the one that matters for the noun's use: people are frisked, and each act of frisking is a "frisking," so the plural names several such searches. Its base, "frisk," is the older word, and "frisking" carries the same sense of a brisk, lively search that the verb already had.