From Middle High German vlietem(e), vliedem(e) f or m, from Old High German fliotema, fliodema f, from Latin phlebotomus, from Ancient Greek φλεβοτώμος (phlebotṓmos). In Late Middle High German, final -em becomes -en (as in Faden etc.). From this a weak-declension nominative vliete is backformed. Cognate with Dutch vlijm, English fleam.