An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/frieren

by Friedrich Kluge

frieren, vb., ‘to freeze, feel cold, be chilled,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vriesen (partic., gevrorn), OHG. friosan (partic. gifroran); the change of s into r has obtained in all parts of the verb, yet s has been preserved in Frieseln and Frost. Comp. Du. vriezen, AS. freósan, E. to freeze, OIc. frjósa; Goth. *friusan is wanting, but may be inferred with certainty from frius, n., ‘frost, cold.’ The change of s into r is also shown by AS. freórig, adj., ‘freezing, frosty, stiff,’ OIc. frer, neu. plur., ‘frost, cold.’ The Teut. root is freus, fruz, from the pre-Teut. root preus, prū̆s. It appears to lie at the base of Lat. prûrio for *prusio, ‘to itch,’ if the connecting link in meaning is to be found in the ‘piercing, itching, burning nature of frost.’ OInd. has a root pruš, ‘to inject a substance,’ which is more remote in meaning; akin to Lat. pruîna, ‘rime’ (for *prusvîna); Sans. prušvá, ‘drop, frozen drop, rime.’ Under no circumstances can the word be connected with Lat. frigere.