English

greyfriar

From grey + friar, from the grey habit worn by the Conventual Franciscans.

A compound of grey + friar

Proto-Germanic *grēwaz ‘grey’

Proto-West Germanic *grāu ‘grey’

Old English grēġ ‘grey’

Middle English grey ‘grey’

English grey

Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr ‘brother’

Proto-Italic *frātēr ‘brother’

Latin frāter ‘brother’

Old French frere ‘brother’

Middle English frere

English friar

Today it means

noun Synonym of Franciscan: a member of the Order of the Friars Minor.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / greyfriar