Obs. exc. dial. [of uncertain origin; it corresponds in sense to OF. flo, flou (whence mod.F. flou in a specific sense relating to painting) and to Du. flauw, LG., mod.HG. flau; but the mutual relation of the words is disputed. See also FLUEY, a.
The initial f instead of v in Du. word is usually an indication of foreign origin (exc. in the case of onomatopœias); hence Kluge and Franck regard flauw as adopted, like the Eng. word, from Fr.; the ultimate source being OTeut. *hlêwo- (Ger. lau. Eng. LEW) lukewarm. This is not very satisfactory. If Du. flauw were a native word, it might correspond to an OE. *fleowe (:—*flawjo-) related to OHG. flewen to rinse, wash; for the sense cf. washy.]
Weak, tender, sickly, delicate.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., III. i. Wks. (Hazlitt), II. 149.
| I knowe her well; ’twas Tybert that begatt her, | |
| But she is flewe, and never will be fatter. |
1679. Lond. Gaz., No. 1416/4. A flew Horse, and a star very remarkable in his forehead.
1736. Pegge, Kenticisms (E.D.S.), Flue, tender, weak; of a horse, or person.
1836. Cooper, Provincialisms Sussex, s.v. ‘That horse is very flue.’
1889. in Hurst, Horsham, Sussex Gloss., s.v. ‘My Fanny is ill again, poor dear, she is so flue.’
