Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “floss” come from?

Floss comes from Middle English flos, of uncertain origin and meaning.

floss (English): A thread used to clean the gaps between the...

Definitions

  1. A thread used to clean the gaps between the...

Ancestry of “floss”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfloshAlternative form of floss; A hopper-shaped box in...
2Middle Englishflosche—

Words derived from “floss”

  • floozy
  • flossy
  • flosser
  • flossiness
  • flosslike
  • floozie
  • dental floss
  • flossily
  • デンタルフロス
Every word from Middle English flosche →