Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “freaking” come from?

Freaking derives from English freak, which comes from Middle English freke, Old English freca, and Proto-Germanic frekô and frekaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pereg- and (s)per-.

freaking (English): present participle of freak; A streak or...

Definitions

  1. present participle of freak; A streak or...

Ancestry of “freaking”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfreakA sudden change of mind; Someone or something...
2Middle Englishfrekea bold man, warrior, man, creature
3Old Englishfrecaa bold man, warrior, hero
4Proto-Germanicfrekôan active or eager man; a bold warrior; wolf
5Proto-Germanicfrekazgreedy
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpereg-—

Words derived from “freaking”

  • fanfreakingtastic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pereg- →