adv. Obs. Also 6 Sc. flatlangis. [f. FLAT a. + -LONG; an altered form of prec.]
1. In or into a prostrate position.
1570. Henry’s Wallace, v. 1110. Flatlangis [MS. thwortour].
1600. F. Walker, Sp. Mandeville, 64 a. [They] let them selues fall flatlong downe to the earth, where the whirl-wind, whisking round about them a pretty while, and then passing forth, the one of them arose, so altered, and in such an agony, that he was scarcely able to stand on his feete.
a. 1632. in T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. i. xxix. 133. Fearing lest the same should swing them up into the ayre, fell flatlong down upon the earth, where the whirlwinde whisking about them a pretty while.
2. With the flat side; also, with the flat sides in contact.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 304. The pittilesse sworde had such pittie of so precious an object, that at first it did but hit flatlong. But little auailed that, since the Ladie falling downe astonished withall, the cruell villaine forced the sword with another blow to diuorce the faire marriage of the head and body.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 34 a. They have a deuice of two sticks filled with corks, and crossed flatlong, out of whose midst there riseth a thred, and at the same hangeth a saile.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 131. Seb. And it had not falne flat-long.
a. 1648. L. Herbert, Life (1886), 141. I, foreseeing the danger I was in if I fell down, clapt my left foot, together with the stirrup and spur, flat-long to the left side, and so made him leap upon all four into the river, whence, after some three or four plunges, he brought me to land.
