Fly
/flaɪ/noun
To move through the air or, as a noun, a winged insect.
Did you know?English fly comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to flow,” which is the same ancient source behind words for fleeing, flight, and even fluids.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleu-
“to flow, float, or run”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*fleuganą
“to fly”
Old English
English
flēogan
“to fly, move through the air”
Middle English
English
fliȝen / flien
“to fly”
Modern English
English
fly
“to move through the air; a winged insect”