frank

Where does the word "frank" come from? It comes from Frankish Frank, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Frank’s story begins in Frankish: Frank meant “a member of the Frankish people.” A member of the Germanic tribe that conquered Gaul, who alone held full civil rights as free men. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as franc. Broadened from the tribal name to mean free, and by extension, open and honest. It reached English by 1300s as frank. Settled as the English word for open, honest speech. Today, frank means open, honest, and direct in speech or expression.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · medieval Frank "a member of the Frankish people", a member of the Germanic tribe that conquered Gaul, who alone held full civil rights as free men.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval franc "free, open, honest", broadened from the tribal name to mean free, and by extension, open and honest.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s frank "open and honest in expression", settled as the English word for open, honest speech.