Where does “grimace” come from?
Grimace comes from French grimace, from Middle French grimace, from Old French grimace and grime, ultimately from Proto-Germanic grīmô and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to grate or scrape.
grimace (English): A contorted facial expression, often expressing...
Definitions
- A contorted facial expression, often expressing...
Ancestry of “grimace”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | grimacer | to grimace |
| 2 | French | grimace | grimace; first-person singular present indicative... |
| 3 | Middle French | grimace | — |
| 4 | Old French | grimace | — |
| 5 | Old French | grime | mask |
| 6 | Frankish | grīma | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | grīmô | mask; visor; helmet |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |