Where does “gruntfrost” come from?

gruntfrost (Old High German) comes from Old High German grunt, from Proto-West Germanic grundu, from Proto-Germanic grunduz, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrem-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

gruntfrost (Old High German): ground frost

Definitions

  1. ground frost

Ancestry of “gruntfrost”, step by step

gruntfrost traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old High German grunt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germangruntground
2Proto-West Germanicgrundu—
3Proto-Germanicgrunduzground, foundation
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrem-to be angry; to sound, bellow, growl, roar, be...
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

via Old High German frost

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanfrostfrost
2Proto-West Germanic*frost—
3Proto-Germanicfrustazcold; frost; freezing weather; frost; rime
4Proto-Indo-Europeanprustósfrost
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrem- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grunduz →