Английский Этимологический словарь - fright (n.)

- O.E. (Northumbrian) fryhto, metathesis of fyrhtu "fear, dread," from P.Gmc. *furkhtaz. Not etymologically related to the word fear, which superseded it as the principal word 13c. For spelling evolution, see fight. Frightful originally meant "timid," and like most -ful adjectives originally had an active and passive sense; Johnson noted it as "a cant word among women for anything unpleasing."