Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 3–7, 9 flaun(e, (4 flaunne), 5–7 flawn(e, 8–9 flawn. [a. OF. flaon (Fr. flan) of same meaning:—early med.L. fladōn-em (It. fladone honeycomb), a. OHG. flado flat cake (MHG. vlade, mod.Ger. fladen) = Du. vlade, vla pancake:—WGer. *flaþon- (see FLATHE): by many scholars regarded as cognate with Gr. πλάθανον cake-mould, πλατύς broad.]
A kind of custard or cheese-cake, made in various ways. Also, a pancake. Prov. As flat as a flawn.
c. 1300. Havelok, 643.
| Bred an chese, butere and milk, | |
| Pastees and flaunes, al with suilk. |
c. 1390[?]. Form of Cury (1780), 74. Take hony clarified and flaunne.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7042.
| With tartes, or with cheses fat, | |
| With deynte flawnes, brode and flat. |
c. 1440. Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 452. A Flaune of Almayne.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 188. Master Raynard will be content with butter, cheese, creame, flaunes, and custardes.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 470. I love such Dinners as Milkmeats, Flawns, Custards, Cheesecakes, Parmesan, &c.
1721–1600. Bailey, s.v., As flat as a Flawn.
1820. Scott, Abbot, xxxiii. He that is hanged in May will eat no flaunes in Midsummer.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Jackd. Rheims.
| The feast was over, the board was clear’d, | |
| The flawns and the custards had all disappear’d. |
b. transf. of a flat cap.
1602. Dekker, Satiro-mastix, H iv. Cast off that blew coate, away with that flawne, and follow, come.
