An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fracht

by Friedrich Kluge

Fracht, f., ‘freight, load, cargo,’ ModHG. only, from LG. fracht; comp. Du. vracht, E. fraught, freight; it signified orig. ‘reward, charge for conveyance,’ and afterwards ‘the load itself.’ Comp. OHG. frêht (probably implying Goth. *frá-aihts), ‘earnings, reward,’ gifrêhtôn, ‘to merit’; the restricted meaning of the modern dialects is seen first in MidDu. and MidE., and also passed into Romance — Fr. fret. Comp. eigen.