Frost
/frɒst/noun
Frozen water vapor that forms a thin white coating on cold surfaces.
Did you know?The word is ancient Germanic, and its deepest root is also behind words for freezing and frost in several related languages, showing how early speakers named cold by the sensation it inflicted.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*preus-
“to freeze; to burn with cold”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*frustaz
“frost”
Old English
OE
forst / frost
“frost, frozen moisture”
Middle English
ME
frost
“frost; frozen dew”
Modern English
English
frost
“frozen water vapor or a coating of ice crystals”