- refrain (v.)
- c.1300, from Old French refraigner "restrain, repress" (12c.), from Latin refrenare "bridle, hold in with a bit," from re- "back" (see re-) + frenare "restrain, furnish with a bridle," from frenum "a bridle." Related: Refrained; refraining.
- refrain (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French refrain, alteration of refrait, properly past participle of refraindre "repeat," also "break off," from Provençal refranhar "singing of birds, refrain," from Vulgar Latin *refrangere "break off," alteration of Latin refringere (see refraction). The notion is of something that causes a song to "break off" then resume. Not common before 19c.