flatlong

English

Alternative forms

• flat-long

Etymology

From alternation of the original flatling, by assimilating to long. More at flatling.

Adverb

flatlong (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) With the flat side downward; not edgewise.
   • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

     Antonio: What a blow was there given!
     Sebastian: An it had not fall'n flat-long.

   • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the page number)”, in Fulke Greville, Matthew Gwinne, and John Florio, editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC; republished in Albert Feuillerat, editor, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia (Cambridge English Classics: The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney; I), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1912, →OCLC:

     Yet the pittiless sword had such pity of so precious an object, that at first it did but hit flatlong

Translations

with the flat side downward

• Russian: плашмя́ (ru) (plašmjá)

References

• “flatlong”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.