- refrain (v.)
- c.1300, from O.Fr. refraigner "restrain, repress" (12c.), from L. refrenare "bridle, hold in with a bit," from re- "back" + frenare "restrain, furnish with a bridle," from frenum "a bridle."
- refrain (n.)
- late 14c., from O.Fr. refrain, alteration of refrait, properly pp. of refraindre "repeat," also "break off," from Prov. refranhar "singing of birds, refrain," from V.L. *refrangere "break off," alteration of L. refringere (see refraction). The notion is of something that causes a song to "break off" then resume. Not common before 19c.