flawn Obs. exc. arch.
(flɔːn)
Forms: 3–7, 9 flaun(e, (4 flaunne), 5–7 flawn(e, 8–9 flawn.
[a. OF. flaon (Fr. flan) of same meaning:—early med.L. fladōn-em (It. fiadone honeycomb), a. OHG. flado flat cake (MHG. vlade, mod.Ger. fladen) = Du. vlade, vla pancake:—WGer. *flaþon- (see flathe): by many scholars regarded as cognate with Gr. πλάθανον cake-mould, πλατύς broad.]
A kind of custard or cheese-cake, made in various ways. Also, a pancake. Prov. as flat as a flawn.
| c 1300 Havelok 644 Pastees and flaunes. ? c 1390 Form of Cury (1780) 74 Take hony clarified and flaunne. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7044 With tartes, or..With deynte flawnes, brode and flat. c 1440 Anc. Cookery in Househ. Ord. (1790) 452 A flaune of Almayne. 1576 Turberv. Venerie 188 Master Raynard will be content with butter, cheese, creame, flaunes, and custardes. 1681 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. (1693) 470, I love such dinners as Milkmeats, Flawns, Custards, Cheesecakes. 1721–1800 Bailey s.v., As flat as a Flawn. 1820 Scott Abbot xxxiii, He that is hanged in May will eat no flaunes in Midsummer. 1840 Barham Ingol. Leg., Jackd. Rheims, The flawns and the custards had all disappear'd. |
b. transf. of a flat cap.
| 1602 Dekker Satiro-mastix H iv, Cast off that blew coate, away with that flawne. |