An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Fräulein

by Friedrich Kluge

Fräulein, neuter, ‘young lady, damsel, miss,’ from Middle High German vröuwelîn, neuter, diminutive of Middle High German vrouwe, ‘woman’, originally ‘noble maiden, young lady of noble birth, mistress, sweetheart,’ also ‘girl of mean rank, servant-girl.’