Flesh
/flɛʃ/noun
The soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones of animals and humans.
Did you know?The Old English word for flesh, 'flæsc', was often associated with the idea of 'sacrifice', connecting it to ancient rituals of offering and rebirth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*plēḱ-
“to be soft, to be full”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σάρξ (sarx)
“the body or flesh, often associated with the physical form of living beings”
Latin
Latin
caro
“the flesh or meat of animals, often used in sacrificial contexts”
Old English
Old English
flæsc
“the soft substance of the body, used in religious and cultural contexts”
Middle English
Middle English
flesh
“the body or physical form, often contrasted with the spirit”