flesh English · revision 6749

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000|origins=gem-pro *flaiska-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /flɛʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English flesch, [[inh|ang|flǣsc|t=flesh, meat; the body; living creatures]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*flaiska-|t=flesh]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) source also of Old Saxon [[m|osx|flēsk]], Dutch [[m|nl|vlees]], German [[m|de|Fleisch]] and Old Norse [[m|non|flesk|t=pork, bacon]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Its origin is uncertain;^(Etymonline) Watkins derives it from PIE [[ine-pro|*pleik-|t=to tear]], as a piece torn off,^(Etymonline) and Hoad relates it to [[flitch]], with an original meaning “slice”.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The soft, muscular parts of an animal body: about 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Old English also used it for the body as opposed to the soul and for near kindred.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The kindred sense survives in ''flesh and blood''.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) ''Proud flesh'', overgrowth in a healing wound, is from 1578,^(OED 1989) and ''to make one's flesh creep'' from 1727.^(OED 1989) The verb, to reward a hunting animal with flesh from the kill and so make it eager, is from the 1520s;^(Etymonline) to embody or fill out, now ''flesh out'', is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) ''To go the way of all flesh'', to die, comes from the Bible.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – flesh of the body.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1520s – to whet a hunting animal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1578 – proud flesh.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – to clothe with flesh.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1727 – make one's flesh creep.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The soft tissue of the body, mainly [[muscle]] and [[fat]], covering the bones.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The skin or surface of the body.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The [[meat]] of animals as food.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The soft, edible part of a fruit or vegetable; [[pulp]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The physical body as opposed to the mind or soul; bodily desires.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Mankind; living creatures.^(AHD)

+ # A pinkish-white colour.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(flesh out)'' To give more substance or detail to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To scrape flesh from a hide.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fleshless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fleshly]]

+ * [[fleshy]]

+ * [[flitch]]

+ * [[flay]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}