vlag

Etymology ultimately uncertain; of undetermined Germanic origin. Perhaps ultimately imitative, or otherwise drawn from Proto-Germanic *flaką (“something flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat, broad, plain”), referring to the shape. Related to early Middle English flage (“name for a baby's garment”) and Old English flagg, flacg (“cataplasm, poultice, plaster”). Related to West Frisian flagge (“flag”), English flag (“flag”), Danish flag, Norwegian Bokmål flagg, Icelandic flagg, Faroese flagg, German Flagge, and Swedish flagga. Compare Old English flacor (“fluttering, flying”).