FLASH
Wild Word Friday!
The word FLASH comes to modern English from a rather unusual source, the Middle English word, flasken or flaschen, which means to rush along with a splashing sound.
It’s somewhat of a mystery how a word that initially referred to the sound made by a rushing liquid, morphed into a word that refers to the sight of a sudden blaze of light, but if you have ever stood beside a sunlit stream that was flowing rapidly, you probably experienced the sight of that light being batted into your eyes via the ever-changing surface of the water. The experience is all-encompassing, and we hear as well as see the FLASH of that passing water.
In modern times, we think of FLASH as referring to our many electronic devices that blink and wink and FLASH at us to get our attention, but I think my favorite FLASH is still that of sunlight on water.
How about you?
Blessings,
Sue
(Some information in this post from Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language. Photo copyright by Neil Harrison.)
Flasken means running around with a splashing sound? I never knew that. Every time I hear the word “flash” .. I get that song in my head: Flash ! ooohooo ( some kind of super hero song I think )
now I have that song in my head hahaha.. silly.
I love the way you describe the sunlight on water Sue.
Happy weekend
Thank you! Happy Weekend to you, too!