An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Flachs

by Friedrich Kluge

Flachs, masculine, ‘flax,’ from the equivalent Middle High German vlahs, Old High German flahs, masculine; compare Dutch vlas, Anglo-Saxon fleax, neuter, English flax; a common West Teutonic term, unknown to Scandinavian and Gothic. Usually referred to the root fleh (or fleht) in flechten; s (Gothic *flahsa-) is probably a suffix.