flour English · revision 10553

17 Oct 2026, 04:58 by bogdan “en10k b0368: harassment … jerk”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|attested=c. 1225|origins=en flower}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: UK /flaʊə/, US /flaʊɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is a special use of Middle English flur, [[flower]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) in the sense of the best or finest part, here the finest part of ground grain,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) as in flour of huete, “flower of wheat” (1340), and French fleur de farine.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The spelling flower was used for both words until the early 19th century.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The finest quality of meal, especially wheat: probably about 1225, in King Horn;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1250 in the OED, the mid-13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Whiteness was typified by flour from 1375.^(OED 1989) Any fine powder made by grinding is from the 14th century in Hoad, 1660 in the OED.^(Hoad 1986)^(OED 1989) The verb, to sprinkle with flour, is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to grind grain into flour from 1828.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1225 – flur, fine meal.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1340 – flour of wheat.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * 1650s – to flour (verb).^(Etymonline)
+ * early 19th century – flour and flower spelled apart.^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A fine powder made by [[grind|alt=grinding]] and sifting the meal of a grain, especially [[wheat]], used in baking.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # Any similar finely ground substance, as of [[cassava]] or fish.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ 
+ ===Verb===
+ # To cover or sprinkle with flour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To grind grain into flour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[floury]]
+ * [[flourless]]
+ * [[overflour]]
+ * [[unfloured]]
+ * [[bread flour]]
+ * [[flour beetle]]
+ * [[flour mill]]
+ * [[graham flour]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[flower]]
+ * [[flora]]
+ * [[flourish]]
+ * [[meal]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}