Middle English Dictionary Entry
flō n.
Entry Info
| Forms | flō n. Also fla, vlo, fleo. Pl. flōn, flān. |
| Etymology | LOE flā (from earlier flān, corresp. to OI flein-n, the -n being taken as the plural inflection). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. flon.
1.
(a) An arrow for the long bow; a crossbow bolt; fethered ~, so swithe (blive) as ~, as swift as an arrow; (b) fig. uses: fendes ~, dethes ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : Wearð se cyng Willelm on huntnoðe fram his anan men mid anre fla ofsceoten.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)549 : Telum: flo.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1456 : On he sette ane fla [Otho: flo], & he feondliche droh.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22344 : Arðures men letten fleon vnimete flan [Otho: flon].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1229 : An fleo schal toward misȝenge, ȝef þu isihst hu fleo of strenge.
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6:Morton)60 : Flaa [Nero: Þet fleoð lihtliche uorð ase earewe þet is iviðered].
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(LdMisc 108)203 : For[to] scheoten him to deþe with Mani a kene flo, With bouwe and Areblast þare schoten to him four hondret knyȝtes and mo.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8123 : Me ne miȝte noȝt ise bote arwen & flon.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.264 : His bowe he bente and sette ther inne a flo.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)648 : Ȝeldeth vp, ȝonge men, ȝour bowes and ȝour floon.
- a1425 SLeg.Magd.(2) (Trin-C R.3.25)384 : Hit bygan to go, so swyþe [Ld: bliue]..as swalwe oþer vlo [Ld: flo].
- a1450 I herde a carpyng (Sln 2593)44 : Gandeleyn bent his goode bowe, and set therin a flo.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)269 : Well-feþered flon floungen aboute.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)20/199 : Euch fleschlich wil & lust..is þes feondes fla.
- a1250 Lofsong Louerde (Nero A.14)211 : Beo mi scheld..aȝein þes feondes flon þet he scheot to me on euche halue.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)490 : Seþþe þou me lokedest first to, Þou me woundest wiþ a flo.
- a1450(?1418) The herrere degre (Dgb 102)102 : Kepe ȝow wel fro deþes flo.