Where does “grim” come from?

grim (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes 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.

grim (Norwegian Nynorsk): grim, ugly, unsightly

Definitions

  1. grim, ugly, unsightly

Ancestry of “grim”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseGrímrespecially one of Óðinn's names
2Icelandicgrímamask; to mask
3Frankishgrīmōmask
4Proto-Germanicgrīmômask; visor; helmet
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēy-to smear; to paint, streak, smear
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grīmô →
grim — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer