Obs. Forms: 1–4 flan, 3–4 flon, 4–5 flone, 5–9 Sc. flane, 5–6 flain(e, (6 flayn). [OE. flán masc. and fem. = ON. fleinn masc., cognate with OE. flá: see FLO. The word survived longest in Sc.; otherwise the normal form would have been flone.] An arrow.

1

Beowulf, 2438 (Gr.).

        Syððan hyne Hæðcyn    of hornboȝan
his freawine,    flane ȝeswencte.

2

a. 1000.  Byrhtnoth, 71 (Gr.). Þurh flanes flyht.

3

a. 1225.  Juliana, 7. Þe flan þe of luue fleoð.

4

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1161. At vche [þat] wende vndir wande wapped a flone.

5

c. 1450.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., iv. 152.

        Ane Bow he bent, ane flane with fedderis gray
He haillit to the heid.

6

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 32.

        Dartis about him swyftlie could he fling,
  And rin ane rais and shortlie turne ane steid;
Cunning of Crosbow, cutthrot, and culuering;
  Ane flaine lat fle with bow in tyme of neid.

7

1724.  Poems on Royal Company of Archers, 34.

        To see them draw the bended yew,
Brings bygane ages to our view,
When burnish’d swords and whizzing flanes
Forbade the Norwegens and Danes,
Romans and Saxons, to invade
A nation of nae foes afraid.

8