flathe

English

Alternative forms

• flath

Etymology

From Middle English flathe (“flat fish”), from Old English *flaþa ("flatcake"; found only in compound flæþecomb, fleþecomb (“weaver's comb”)), from Proto-Germanic *flaþô (“flatcake”), of uncertain origin. Previously thought to have derived from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂t- (“broad, flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to spread out, be broad, be flat”), but the phonological development is difficult to explain. Cognate with Dutch vla, vlade (“baked custard, pancake”), Middle Low German vlade (“flatcake”), German Fladen (“a flatcake, cowpatty”). Related to flan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fleɪð/
• Rhymes: -eɪð

Noun

flathe (plural flathes)

1. A flan.
2. (dialectal) A ray or skate (fish).

Related terms

• flathon

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Middle English

Alternative forms

• fflathe, fflath

Etymology

Inherited from Old English *flaþa, from Proto-Germanic *flaþô. Doublet of flathon and flaun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈflaːð(ə)/

Noun

flathe (rare, Late Middle English)

1. A ray or skate.

Descendants

• English: flathe, flath

References

• “flāthe (n.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-06.