An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Freund
Freund, m., from the equiv. MidHG. vriunt(d), OHG. friunt, m., ‘friend, relative’; comp. OSax. friunt, ‘friend, relative,’ Du. vriend, AS. freónd, E. friend, Goth. frijônds. Goth. frijônds, and hence also the other words, are partics. from an OTeut. and Goth. vb. frijôn, ‘to love,’ AS. freógan, ‘to love’ (see frei); therefore the word, signifying lit. ‘lover,’ is used in many dialects (even yet in LG., Hess., Franc., Alsat., Suab., and Bav.) for ‘relative.’ As to the formation, see Heiland, Feind.