Where does the “getting weaker” definition of “flagging” come from?
I understand that "flagging" means "to get weaker," or "exhuasted and slowed," but I don't understand why. I presume it comes from a metaphor of some kind, but I cannot identify its origin. Can anyone help?
etymology
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I understand that "flagging" means "to get weaker," or "exhuasted and slowed," but I don't understand why. I presume it comes from a metaphor of some kind, but I cannot identify its origin. Can anyone help?
etymology
edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
New contributor
Lionside is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I understand that "flagging" means "to get weaker," or "exhuasted and slowed," but I don't understand why. I presume it comes from a metaphor of some kind, but I cannot identify its origin. Can anyone help?
etymology
edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
New contributor
Lionside is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I understand that "flagging" means "to get weaker," or "exhuasted and slowed," but I don't understand why. I presume it comes from a metaphor of some kind, but I cannot identify its origin. Can anyone help?
etymology
etymology
edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
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Lionside is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
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asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
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edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
edited 23 hours ago
Laurel
32.5k662115
32.5k662115
asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
New contributor
Lionside is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
asked yesterday
LionsideLionside
112
112
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Lionside is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
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2 Answers
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The Online Etymology Dictionary has it that the meaning you cite derives from old Norse:
is from Old Norse flaka "to flicker, flutter, hang losse," perhaps
imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind. Sense of "go limp,
droop, become languid" is first recorded 1610s.
Somewhat speculative, I'm not immediatley able to find or offer anything more definitive.
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
add a comment |
According to the OED, the verb to flag, comes from Old French flaquir - to become flaccid. It doesn't seem to make an appearance in English until the sixteenth century.
Etymology: ? < flag adj.; compare Old French flaquir to become
flaccid. But probably there is a mixture with an onomatopoeic
formation, expressing the same notion as flap, flack, but implying
less energetic movement.
1540 [implied in: R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f.
lviv That her brestes..be neyther to great, softe, hangynge, and
flaggynge.
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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The Online Etymology Dictionary has it that the meaning you cite derives from old Norse:
is from Old Norse flaka "to flicker, flutter, hang losse," perhaps
imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind. Sense of "go limp,
droop, become languid" is first recorded 1610s.
Somewhat speculative, I'm not immediatley able to find or offer anything more definitive.
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
add a comment |
The Online Etymology Dictionary has it that the meaning you cite derives from old Norse:
is from Old Norse flaka "to flicker, flutter, hang losse," perhaps
imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind. Sense of "go limp,
droop, become languid" is first recorded 1610s.
Somewhat speculative, I'm not immediatley able to find or offer anything more definitive.
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
add a comment |
The Online Etymology Dictionary has it that the meaning you cite derives from old Norse:
is from Old Norse flaka "to flicker, flutter, hang losse," perhaps
imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind. Sense of "go limp,
droop, become languid" is first recorded 1610s.
Somewhat speculative, I'm not immediatley able to find or offer anything more definitive.
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
The Online Etymology Dictionary has it that the meaning you cite derives from old Norse:
is from Old Norse flaka "to flicker, flutter, hang losse," perhaps
imitative of something flapping lazily in the wind. Sense of "go limp,
droop, become languid" is first recorded 1610s.
Somewhat speculative, I'm not immediatley able to find or offer anything more definitive.
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
edited 23 hours ago
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
answered 23 hours ago
DuckisaduckisaduckDuckisaduckisaduck
1,314716
1,314716
add a comment |
add a comment |
According to the OED, the verb to flag, comes from Old French flaquir - to become flaccid. It doesn't seem to make an appearance in English until the sixteenth century.
Etymology: ? < flag adj.; compare Old French flaquir to become
flaccid. But probably there is a mixture with an onomatopoeic
formation, expressing the same notion as flap, flack, but implying
less energetic movement.
1540 [implied in: R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f.
lviv That her brestes..be neyther to great, softe, hangynge, and
flaggynge.
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
add a comment |
According to the OED, the verb to flag, comes from Old French flaquir - to become flaccid. It doesn't seem to make an appearance in English until the sixteenth century.
Etymology: ? < flag adj.; compare Old French flaquir to become
flaccid. But probably there is a mixture with an onomatopoeic
formation, expressing the same notion as flap, flack, but implying
less energetic movement.
1540 [implied in: R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f.
lviv That her brestes..be neyther to great, softe, hangynge, and
flaggynge.
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
add a comment |
According to the OED, the verb to flag, comes from Old French flaquir - to become flaccid. It doesn't seem to make an appearance in English until the sixteenth century.
Etymology: ? < flag adj.; compare Old French flaquir to become
flaccid. But probably there is a mixture with an onomatopoeic
formation, expressing the same notion as flap, flack, but implying
less energetic movement.
1540 [implied in: R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f.
lviv That her brestes..be neyther to great, softe, hangynge, and
flaggynge.
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
According to the OED, the verb to flag, comes from Old French flaquir - to become flaccid. It doesn't seem to make an appearance in English until the sixteenth century.
Etymology: ? < flag adj.; compare Old French flaquir to become
flaccid. But probably there is a mixture with an onomatopoeic
formation, expressing the same notion as flap, flack, but implying
less energetic movement.
1540 [implied in: R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f.
lviv That her brestes..be neyther to great, softe, hangynge, and
flaggynge.
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
answered 20 hours ago
WS2WS2
51.9k27114245
51.9k27114245
add a comment |
add a comment |
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