An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fries

by Friedrich Kluge

Fries, m., also Friese, f.,‘frieze (cloth and part of a column),’ ModHG. only, formerly also in the sense of ‘coarse woollen stuff’; from Fr. frise, f., whence E. frieze; the Fr. word, like its Romance cognates, is itself derived from Teut.; comp AS. frise, ‘curled,’ E. to friz, frizzle, OFris. frisle, ‘hair of the head.’