Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “grimsome” come from?

grimsome (English) comes from English Grim, from Old English Grīm, from Old Norse Grímr, from Icelandic gríma, from Frankish grīmō, from Proto-Germanic grīmô, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

grimsome (English): Characterised or marked by grimness; somber

Definitions

  1. Characterised or marked by grimness; somber

Ancestry of “grimsome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGrim—
2Old EnglishGrīm—
3Old NorseGrímr—
4Icelandicgrímamask; to mask
5Frankishgrīmōmask
6Proto-Germanicgrīmômask; visor; helmet
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →