Why is flower called flower?

Question

You know the flower you bake with? Why is it called flower?

Answer 1

The one you cook with is 'flour' and the one you sniff admiringly is 'flower' but they both come from the same word 'fleur' in both Middle English (fleur) and Old French ('flur' and 'fleur'). Originally they had two distinct meanings:

fleur = the pretty thing on plants which became 'flower' in English

fleur= 'the very best of', as in, for example, 'fleur des femmes Françaises'. (In English we would say 'the flower of English womanhood', analagously.)

The stuff we bake with is called 'flour' because, in French, it was originally 'fleur de la farine', that is to say 'the very best of flour'. Experienced cooks will recognise that same usage from 'fleur de sel' still current today. In ME, that 'fleur' became 'flour', losing the qualifier 'de la farine' altogether, and the distinction flour / flower is born .

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

flour???

it came from about 1200-1500, ME

It's a special use for flour and i think it's old French or latin..but dont quote me..
Anyway, the saying fleur de farine which is the flower or the finest part of the meal..because back then it was considered the best part of the meal

Answer 3

I think Adam got that going. However, different languages use different names. French is Fleur. Refer to the Dictionary and see what the root is. I will stick with "Flower".

Answer 4

Must be a non- cooking girl~ Flour dear, Maybe you should be in Home & Garden. Just kidding,Go look at the store.

Answer 5

Flour. Same sound different word...

Answer 6

i don't bake with flower...i bake with flour :)

Answer 7

Um, that's F-L-O-U-R