'refrain' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'refrener,' where 're-' meant 'back' and 'frener' meant 'to bridle.'

'refrener' transformed into the Middle English word 'refraynen,' and eventually became the modern English word 'refrain.'

Initially, it meant 'to hold back or restrain,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'to stop oneself from doing something' and 'a repeated line in a song or poem.'