by 
Spixxy
ANSWERS: 2
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Bartlby.com says: Shortening and alteration of freshman (perhaps influenced by German Frosch, frog, grammar-school pupil).
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Can't add to that, since it seems reasonable, and I don't really know. But, although I have heard Germans in Germany say, "Frosch," I've never heard anyone, anywhere say "Frosh." Over a span of 18 years I was a student in one college and six different universities in three countries; then I was a college and university professor for 46 years. I've never heard anyone, anywhere say "Frosh." But, just to add a bit of mud to the water, the cry of the German Frosch is not "Ribbit," or "Croak," of even the traditional "Jug o' Rum!" It's "Quack," pronounced /kvock/.
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