Where does “frown” come from?
frown (Middle English) comes from Middle English frounen, from Old French frognier, from Gaulish frognā, from Proto-Celtic srognā, from Proto-Indo-European sregʰ- — snore; to snore.
Ancestry of “frown”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | frounen | to frown as an expression of disapproval,... |
| 2 | Old French | frognier | to frown or scowl |
| 3 | Gaulish | frognā | nostril |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | srognā | nose |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sregʰ- | snore; to snore |
Words derived from “frown”