Where does “flatfish” come from?

flatfish (English) comes from English Fish, from Old English fiscian, from Proto-West Germanic fiskōn, from Proto-Germanic fiskōną, from Proto-Germanic -ōną, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé- — he, she.

flatfish (English): A fish of the order Pleuronectiformes, the adults...

Definitions

  1. A fish of the order Pleuronectiformes, the adults...

Ancestry of “flatfish”, step by step

flatfish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Fish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFishThe constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces
2Old Englishfiscianto fish
3Proto-West Germanicfiskōnto fish, to catch fish
4Proto-Germanicfiskōnąto fish, to catch fish
5Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
9Chichewaiyehe, she

via English flat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflatHaving no variations in height; Without...
2Scotsfletinner part of a house
3Middle Englishfletthe floor, ground; a dwelling, habitation, house,...
4Old Englishfletthe floor, ground; a dwelling, habitation, house,...
5Proto-Germanicflatjąa level surface; level ground; the floor of a...
6Proto-Germanicflatazflat
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanplÁt-
Every word from Chichewa iye