Obs. [Cf. OHG. flado, MHG. flade flat cake; an OE. *flaða has not been found.]
1. = FLATHON, FLAWN.
c. 1450. Interl. Gloss. John de Garlande, in Wright, Voc., 127. Flaones fartos (flathen ystuffyd).
2. A name for the ray or skate.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 164/2. Flathe, or flathe [sic], fysche (flay, or flacch, fysch.) (R)agadies.
1466. Mann. & Househ. Exp., 334. Item, the same day my mastyr paid for a fflathe … xiij.d.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 127 a. The fishe called in Latin pastinaca marina, whych is lyke vnto a flath.
1577. Harrison, Descr. Eng., III. iii., in Holinshed (1587), I. 224. Our chaits, maidens, kingsons, flath and thornbacke.
c. 1601. J. Keymor, Dutch Fishing (1664), 8. Soals, Thorneback, Floith [sic], Scats, Brett [etc.].
