Etymograph

English

true frog

From true (“sensu stricto”) + frog.

A compound of true ‘sensu stricto’ + frog

Proto-Indo-European *drewH- ‘firm’

Proto-Germanic *triwwiz ‘faithful’

Old English trēowe ‘faithful’

Middle English treowe

English true

Proto-Indo-European *prew- ‘to jump’

Proto-West Germanic *froggō

Old English frocga

Middle English frogge ‘a frog or toad’

English frog

Today it means

noun Any frog of the large family Ranidae, found worldwide, typically with smooth and moist skin; large, powerful legs; and extensively webbed feet.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “true frog”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / true frog