Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flippant” come from?

Flippant derives from the English verb flip, which comes from the English noun fillip, traced through Middle English filippen and ultimately Middle English flappen.

flippant (English): glib; speaking with ease and rapidity; nimble;...

Definitions

  1. glib; speaking with ease and rapidity; nimble;...

Ancestry of “flippant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishflippandprattling, babbling, glib
2EnglishflipA maneuver which rotates an object end over end;...
3EnglishfillipThe action of holding the tip of a finger against...
4Middle Englishfilippento make a signal or sound with thumb and right...
5Middle Englishflappento flap, clap, slap, strike

Words derived from “flippant”

  • flippancy
  • flippantly
  • flippantness
  • unflippant
Every word from Middle English flappen →