frisson

UK: English: /ˈfriːsɒn/, French: /frisɔ̃/

US: (frē sōn′; Fr. frē sôn′)

Inflections of 'frisson' (n): npl: frissons

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fris•son  (frē sōn′; Fr. frē sôn′), n., pl. -sons 

(-sōnz′; Fr. -sôn′). 
1. a sudden, passing sensation of excitement;
   a shudder of emotion;
   thrill:
   The movie offers the viewer the occasional frisson of seeing a character in mortal danger.

• Late Latin frictiōnem, accusative of frictiō shiver (taken as derivative of frīgēre to be cold), Latin: massage, friction
• French: shiver, shudder, Old French friçons (plural)
• 1770–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

frisson / frisɔ̃/ noun

1. a shudder or shiver; thrill

Etymology: 18th Century (but in common use only from C20): literally: shiver