'freeze' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'frēosan', where the root meant 'to freeze, to be cold.'

'freeze' changed from Old English 'frēosan' and Middle English forms such as 'fresen'/'frosen' into the modern English word 'freeze.' It is related to German 'frieren' and Dutch 'vriezen.'

Initially, it meant 'to become cold or stiff'; over time it retained that core sense and extended to meanings like 'to stop motion' or 'to halt (operations).'