Etymology Map
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Fry

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to cook in hot oil or fat

Where does the word "fry" come from? It comes from Latin frigere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
frigere
Latin · ancient
"to roast, fry"
related to Greek 'phrygein', to parch
2
Stage 2 of 3
frire
Old French · medieval
"to fry"
cooking in hot fat
3
Stage 3 of 3
fry
English · 1200s
"to cook in fat"
'French fries' date from the early 1900s
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Read the full story

Fry’s story begins in Latin: frigere meant “to roast, fry.” Related to Greek 'phrygein', to parch. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as frire. Cooking in hot fat. It reached English by 1200s as fry. 'French fries' date from the early 1900s. Today, fry means to cook in hot oil or fat.