An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Frist

by Friedrich Kluge

Frist, f., ‘period, appointed time, respite,’ from MidHG. vrist, f., OHG. frist, f., (neu.), ‘limited period, postponement, space of time’; OSax. frist, AS. first, m., OIc. frest, n. plur., ‘postponement.’ Probably not derived from the root fri (see frei), ‘to love.’ It might more reasonably be connected with the Goth. verbal particle fri in frisahts, if the meaning of the latter were clear. See also Rist