The name of the Franks itself is said to come from the Proto-Germanic word *"frankon" which means "javelin, lance". Another proposed etymology is that Frank means "the free men", based on the fact that the word "frank" meant "free" in the ancient Germanic languages. However, rather than the ethnic name of the Franks coming from the word "frank" ("free"), it is more probable that the word "frank" ("free") comes from the ethnic name of the Franks, the connection being that only the Franks, as the conquering class, had the status of freemen.