English
frow
Frow comes from Middle Dutch vrouwe ‘lady’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *prōw- ‘right’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*prōw-‘right’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*frawjǭ‘lady, mistress’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*frauwjā‘lady, wife of a lord’reconstructed
- Old Dutchc. 500–1150*frōwareconstructed
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500vrouwe‘lady’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1622frow
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*prōw-‘right’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*frawjǭ‘lady, mistress’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*frauwjā‘lady, wife of a lord’reconstructed
- Old Dutchc. 500–1150*frōwareconstructed
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500vrouwe‘lady’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1622frow
Earliest quotation: c. 1622, John Fletcher, Beggars Bush: “Mrs. Frances, a Frow, Daughter to Vanlock”.
Linked words
through Proto-West Germanic *frauwjā ‘lady, wife of a lord’
Another origin of frow
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500frow
- Englishtodaysame form
Perhaps also related to Middle Dutch vro, vroo, Middle Low German vrô, German froh.
Today it means
noun A woman; a wife, especially a Dutch or German one.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *prōw- / frow