- flan
- "open tart," 1846, from Fr. flan "custard tart, cheesecake," from O.Fr. flaon, from M.L. flado, a Gmc. borrowing, from P.Gmc. *fladu- (cf. Frank. *flado, O.H.G. flado "offering cake," M.H.G. vlade "a broad, thin cake," Du. vla "baked custard"), akin to words for flat (q.v.), probably from PIE base *pele- "spread out, broad, flat" (see plane (1)).