Where does “Grau” come from?

Grau (English) comes from German Grau, from Middle High German grā, from Old High German grāo, from Proto-Germanic grēwaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁- — to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow.

Ancestry of “Grau”, step by step

Grau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Grau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanGraugrey
2Middle High Germangrā
3Old High Germangrāogrey
4Proto-Germanicgrēwazgrey
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰreh₁-to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow

via Catalan grau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Catalangraudegree, level; degree, extent; grade, year, form
2Latingradusa step, pace; a stage, degree; a rank
3Proto-Italicgraðus
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰradʰ-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰreh₁-Every word from Proto-Germanic grēwazEvery word from Old High German grāo