English

Alternative forms

• 'frisco / 'Frisco

Proper noun

Frisco

1. (slang) San Francisco, California.
   • 1968, Otis Redding, (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay (song):

     Left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay, I had nothin' to live for, looks like nothin's gonna come my way, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay, watchin' the tide roll away, sittin' on the dock of the bay, wastin' time.

   • 1872, "Emperor" Joshua A. Norton, Edict:

     Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco," which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.

Usage notes

This term is rarely used in California today, and may be considered insulting by residents of the city.