fressen

From Middle High German frezzen, from Old High German frezzan, firezzan, from Proto-Germanic *fraetaną. Cognate with Dutch vreten, English fret, Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (fraitan), Swedish fräta.

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fressen (class 5 strong, third-person singular simple present frisst, past tense fraß, past participle gefressen, past subjunctive fräße, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive or intransitive, of an animal) to eat; to feed on; to devour
2. (transitive or intransitive, of a person, derogatory) to stuff oneself; to gorge oneself; to eat like a pig

   Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral.

   First comes the stomach, then comes ethics.

3. (figuratively, chiefly reflexive with durch) to eat away (e.g. metal)
4. (figuratively, transitive) to consume, to guzzle, to burn (e.g. fuel, money)
5. (transitive, colloquial, perfect only) to despise, to have a pet peeve against

   Den hab ich ja gefressen! ― I can’t stand that guy! (literally, “I have eaten that one.”)

• → English: fress (or from Yiddish)

• essen

• fressen in Duden online