Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flask” come from?

Flask comes from Middle English flaske, from Old English flaxe, from Frankish flaska, from Proto-Germanic flaskǭ, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European pel-, a root meaning to fold or plait.

flask (English): A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used...

Definitions

  1. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used...

Ancestry of “flask”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishflaskA small barrel for beer storage; A container for...
2Anglo-Normanflascon—
3Frankishflaskabottle, flask
4Proto-Germanicflaskǭa plaiting-covered vessel; bottle, flask
5Proto-Germanicflehtanąto plait, to weave
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpleḱ-to fold, plait, weave
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

Words derived from “flask”

  • powderflask
  • flasklike
  • flaskful
  • flaskless
  • flasklet
  • 플라스크
  • flas
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →