Etymograph

English

flax

Flax comes from Middle English flax ‘Flax or its fibres’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- ‘to plait’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleḱ-‘to plait’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*flahsąreconstructed
  3. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*flahsreconstructed
  4. Old Englishc. 450–1150fleax‘linen, flax’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500flax‘Flax or its fibres’
  6. Englishtodayflax

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pleḱ-‘to plait’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*flahsąreconstructed
  3. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*flahsreconstructed
  4. Old Englishc. 450–1150fleax‘linen, flax’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500flax‘Flax or its fibres’
  6. Englishtodayflax

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- ‘to plait’

complex, apply, employment, reply, display, employ, explicit, exploitation, exploit, imply, deploy, replica, implicit, complication, fiasco, complicate, accomplice, ploy, ply, inexplicable, complicity, supple, implicate, plexus, pliable, supplication, triplicate, flack, pliant, explication, splay, flagon, 34 more

Today it means

noun A plant of the genus Linum, especially Linum usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. Also known as linseed, especially when referring to the seeds.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- / flax

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