frow

Meanings

1. A woman; a wife, especially a Dutch or German one.
2. A slovenly woman; a wench; a lusty woman.
3. A big, fat woman; a slovenly, coarse, or untidy woman; a woman of low character.

1. Alternative spelling of froe (“cleaving tool”).

1. Brittle; tender; crisp

Etymology

From Middle Dutch vrouwe (“lady”), from Old Dutch *frōwa, from Proto-West Germanic *frauwjā, from Proto-Germanic *frawjǭ (“lady, mistress”), from Proto-Indo-European *prōw- (“right; judge, master”). Cognate with Dutch vrouw (“woman, wife, lady, mistress”), Low German frouw, frauw (“woman, wife, lady”), German Frau (“woman, wife, lady”), Swedish fru, Icelandic freyja (“lady, mistress”, in compounds), Old English frōwe (“woman”), Old English frēa (“lord, master, husband”). Doublet of frau, vrou, and vrouw.