frow

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch vrouwe (“lady”), from Old Dutch *frōwa, from Proto-West Germanic [Term?], 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 and vrouw.

noun

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

Etymology 2

noun

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

Etymology 3

From Middle English frow, frough, frogh, frouh, frouȝ (“brittle; tender; fickle; slack; loose”), cognate with Scots frooch, freuch (“dry and brittle”). Of obscure origin. Perhaps also related to Middle Dutch vro, vroo, Middle Low German vrô, German froh.

adj

1. (now chiefly dialectal) Brittle; tender; crisp

Etymology 4

Compare frower.

noun

1. A cleaving tool with handle at right angles to the blade, for splitting cask staves and shingles from the block; a frower.