Flan

Pronunciation

• IPA: /flæn/
• Rhymes: -æn

(1846) French flan ("cheesecake, custard tart, flan"), from Old French flaon, from Late Latin fladonem, accusative of flado ("flat cake"), from Old Frankish *flado ("flat cake"), from Proto-Germanic *flaþô ("flat cake"), from Proto-Indo-European *plat-, *pla- ("flat, broad"), from Proto-Indo-European *pele- ("to spread out, broad, flat"). Akin to Old High German flado ("flat cake, offering cake"). More at flathe.

Alternative forms

• flawn obsolete

Full definition of flan

Noun

1. Baked tart with sweet or savoury filling in an open-topped pastry case (the only meaning in UK)
2. Type of custard dessert, popular in Spanish-speaking countries (both the pastry version and this one may be called flan in the USA). Called crème caramel in UK
3. (numismatics) A flat metal disk used to strike coins.

Related terms

• flathe
• flathon

Pronunciation

• IPA: /flæn/

English, from a slip of the tongue by actor Nathan Fillion

Noun

1. A fan of U.S. TV series Firefly; a Browncoat.