frank

frank · adjective, noun, verb¹

1. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*frankō“javelin, spear”
2. Old French · derived fromfranc“free”
3. Middle English · inherited fromfrank
4. English todayfrank

From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang.

frank · noun²

Clipping of frankfurter.

frank · noun, verb³

1. Old French · derived fromfranc
2. English todayfrank

From Old French franc.

frank · noun⁴

1. French · derived fromfranc
2. English todayfrank

From French franc.

Frank · noun⁵

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*frankô“javelin”
2. Frankish · derived from*Franko“a Frank”
3. Latin · derived fromFrancus“a Frank”
4. Old French · derived fromFranc
5. Old English · inherited fromFranca“a Frank”
6. Middle English · inherited fromFrank
7. English todayFrank

From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang.

Frank · proper noun⁶

The surname derives from the medieval tribal name. The given name is also a form of Francis, with formal given name status since the 19th century.

Words from the same roots