Wittfrau

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

• Witfrau (alternative spelling)
• Wettfrau (scattered variant)
• Wittfraa, Wettfraa, Wittfroo, Wettfroo (Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From Middle High German widewe (“widow”) + vrouwe (“woman”). Explanatory compound due to regular contraction of the first component. Compare Luxembourgish Wittfra, archaic German Witfrau.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋitfʀɔu̯/

Noun

Wittfrau f (plural Wittfraue, masculine Wittmann)

1. (Ripuarian, few dialects of Moselle Franconian) widow