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frugi

Etymology and origin of the Latin word frugi

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*bʰruHg-)

Forms

frūgī (indeclinable, comparative frūgālior, superlative frūgālissimus, adverb frūgāliter)[1] Indeclinable; the comparative and superlative are supplied by frūgālior, frūgālissimus.[2]

Etymology

It was originally the predicative dative of frūx “fruit, produce”, so “(fit) for food, useful”.[2][1] De Vaan derives ⟨frūx⟩ from the root of fruor “to enjoy”, Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- (“to use”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of persons.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

Of persons, especially slaves, it meant worthy, honest, well-behaved, sober, thrifty, as in Plautus; of things, moderate, frugal, sober, as in Cicero.[2][5] Frūgī “the Honest” was the surname of several Romans, such as Lucius Piso.[6]

British Medieval Latin used it for of good character, thrifty, sparing.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of persons.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of things.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Worthy, honest, thrifty, well-conducted.[2][7]
  2. Frugal, moderate.[2]

Usage notes

Lewis & Short treat it under frūx.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Frugi.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/frugi. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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