Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “flat” come from?

flat (Middle English) comes from Old Norse flatr, from Proto-Germanic flataz, from Proto-Indo-European plÁt-.

Ancestry of “flat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseflatrflat, level; flat, prostrate
2Proto-Germanicflatazflat
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanplÁt-—

Words derived from “flat”

  • flat
  • flatter
  • flatly
  • flatten
  • unflattering
  • flatbed
  • Flathead
  • flatboat
  • flathead
  • flatware
  • flattish
  • flatfish
  • flatbread
  • flatland
  • flatmate
  • flattop
  • flatiron
  • flatfoot
  • mudflat
  • flatfooted
  • aflat
  • flatworm
  • flatting
  • flatscreen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European plÁt- →