O.E.
brydguma "suitor," from
bryd "bride" +
guma "man" (cf. O.N.
gumi, O.H.G.
gomo, cognate with L.
homo "man"). Ending altered 16c. by folk etymology after
groom "groom, boy, lad" (q.v.). Common Gmc. term, except in Goth., which used
bruþsfaþs, lit. "bride's lord."