See also: Flax

English edit

 
A field of flax (Linum usitatissimum)

Etymology edit

From Middle English flax, from Old English fleax, from Proto-Germanic *flahsą, from Proto-Indo-European *pleḱ- (to plait). Cognate with Old Frisian flax, Dutch vlas, Old High German flahs (German Flachs); the Northern Germanic (and most likely the Gothic too[1]) stem is different.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /flæks/
  • (dialectal, obsolete) IPA(key): /flɛks/[2]
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æks

Noun edit

flax (countable and uncountable, plural flaxes)

  1. A plant of the genus Linum, especially Linum usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. Also known as linseed, especially when referring to the seeds.
  2. The fibers of Linum usitatissimum, grown to make linen and related textiles.
  3. The flax bush, a plant of the genus Phormium, native to New Zealand, with strap-like leaves up to 3 metres long that grow in clumps.

Usage notes edit

The plural flaxes is used to indicate multiple species or varieties of flax; otherwise, flax is uncountable.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Etymology in the Deutsches Wörterbuch of Jakob und Wilhelm Grimm: "however, Old Norse hör ... The Gothic word has not been transmitted, but one might guess harvs"
  2. ^ Bingham, Caleb (1808), “Improprieties in Pronunciation, common among the people of New-England”, in The Child's Companion; Being a Conciſe Spelling-book [] [1], 12th edition, Boston: Manning & Loring, →OCLC, page 75.

Anagrams edit

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Inherited from Old English fleax, from Proto-West Germanic *flahs, from Proto-Germanic *flahsą, from Proto-Indo-European *plek-.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

flax (uncountable)

  1. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) or its fibers
  2. Linen; fabric made out of flax
  3. Flax or straw used as a firestarter; tinder

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • English: flax

References edit

Swedish edit

Noun edit

flax c

  1. (colloquial) (unexpected) good luck

Declension edit

Declension of flax 
Uncountable
Indefinite Definite
Nominative flax flaxet
Genitive flax flaxets

See also edit

References edit