Frosting
/ˈfrɔːstɪŋ/noun
A sweet coating spread over cakes, or the formation of a thin layer of ice crystals on a surface.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a prehistoric Indo-European root meaning “to freeze,” linking cake frosting to the same ancient word-family as freeze.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*prews-
“To freeze; to become covered with ice”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*frustaz
“Frost; frozen precipitation”
Old English
Old English
forst
“Frost or freezing cold”
Middle English
Middle English
frost
“Frost; a freezing condition”
16th Century
English
frost
“To cover or become covered with a thin icy layer”
18th Century
English
frosting
“A sugary coating resembling frost, especially on cakes”
Modern English
English
frosting
“Cake icing or a thin deposit of ice crystals”