Where does “frass” come from?

frass (English) comes from German Fraß, from Middle High German vrāz, from Old High German frāz, from Old High German frëȥȥan, from Proto-Germanic *fraetan, from Proto-Germanic fraetaną, from Proto-Germanic etaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁édti — to eat.

frass (English): The droppings or excrement of insects; under the...

Definitions

  1. The droppings or excrement of insects; under the...

Ancestry of “frass”, step by step

frass traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via German Fraß

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanFraßthe food of an animal, especially its prey; grub;...
2Middle High Germanvrāz
3Old High Germanfrāz
4Old High Germanfrëȥȥan
5Proto-Germanic*fraetan
6Proto-Germanicfraetanąto devour, eat up, consume
7Proto-Germanicetanąto eat
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁édtito eat
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat

via English fake

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfakeNot real; false, fraudulent; Insincere; Something...
2EnglishfeakAlternative form of feague
3Germanfegento sweep, to polish
4Middle Low Germanvegen
5Old Dutchfegōnto cleanse
6Proto-West Germanicfaginōnto gladden, rejoice
7Proto-Germanicfaginōnąto gladden, rejoice
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpōḱ-

via English grass

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgrassAny plant of the family Poaceae, characterized by...
2Middle EnglishgrasA grass; Any plant; especially a herbaceous one;...
3Old Englishgræsgrass
4Proto-West Germanicgrasgrass
5Proto-Germanicgrasągrass
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰreh₁-to become green, grow; to grow; to green, to grow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁édtiEvery word from Proto-Germanic etaną