Where does “pretman” come from?

pretman (Tok Pisin) comes from Tok Pisin pret, from English ’fraid, from English afraid, from Middle English affrayed, from Anglo-Norman afrayer, from Old French effreer, from Vulgar Latin exfridare, from Vulgar Latin *exfrido — to love, to please.

pretman (Tok Pisin): coward

Definitions

  1. coward

Ancestry of “pretman”, step by step

pretman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tok Pisin pret

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tok Pisinpretafraid
2English’fraid
3EnglishafraidImpressed with fear or apprehension; in fear;...
4Middle Englishaffrayed
5Anglo-Normanafrayerto terrify, disquiet, disturb; Alternative form...
6Old Frencheffreer
7Vulgar Latinexfridare
8Vulgar Latin*exfrido
9Frankishfriþupeace, sanctuary; security, peace; peace
10Proto-Germanicfriþuzpeace, tranquility; sanctuary, refuge
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please

via Tok Pisin man

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tok Pisinmanman; male
2EnglishMANInitialism of Metropolitan Area Network
3EnglishmanualA handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage...
4Middle Englishmanuel
5Anglo-Normanmanuelmanual; done with the hands; handle; manual;...
6Old Frenchmanual
7Latinmanuālishand
8Latinmanushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting
9Proto-Italicmanushand
10Proto-Indo-Europeanman-human being; man; hand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHósEvery word from Proto-Germanic friþuz
pretman — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer