English
frass
Frass comes from German Fraß ‘the food of an animal, especially its prey’, and goes back to Proto-Germanic *fr(a)ētaz.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fr(a)ētazreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050frāȥ
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350vrāȥ
- Germanc. 1650–presentFraß‘the food of an animal, especially its prey’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968frass
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fr(a)ētazreconstructed
- Old High Germanc. 750–1050frāȥ
- Middle High Germanc. 1050–1350vrāȥ
- Germanc. 1650–presentFraß‘the food of an animal, especially its prey’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968frass
Earliest quotation: 1968, United States. Dept. of Agriculture, Farmers' Bulletin: “Examine the stalk, especially behind the sheaths, for holes…”
Every English word from Proto-Germanic *fr(a)ētaz
Today it means
noun The droppings or excrement of insect larvae.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *fr(a)ētaz / frass