Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flippantness” come from?

flippantness (English) comes from English flippant, from English flippand, from English flip, from English fillip, from Middle English filippen, from Middle English flappen — to flap, clap, slap, strike.

flippantness (English): The quality of being flippant

Definitions

  1. The quality of being flippant

Ancestry of “flippantness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishflippantglib; speaking with ease and rapidity; nimble;...
2Englishflippandprattling, babbling, glib
3EnglishflipA maneuver which rotates an object end over end;...
4EnglishfillipThe action of holding the tip of a finger against...
5Middle Englishfilippento make a signal or sound with thumb and right...
6Middle Englishflappento flap, clap, slap, strike
Every word from Middle English flappen →