Floe
/floʊ/noun
A sheet or mass of floating ice.
Did you know?The term 'floe' is linked to the Old Norse word for 'to flow', connecting it to the ancient belief in the fluidity of nature and the elements.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰleu-
“to flow, swell, or bloom, describing the movement of water or ice.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
flóa
“to flow or flood, particularly relating to water or ice.”
Middle English
Middle English
floe
“a floating mass of ice, derived from the Old Norse term.”
Modern English
English
floe
“a sheet or mass of floating ice, used in contemporary language.”