flatlong
With the flat side downward; not edgewise.
Adverb
- With the flat side downward; not edgewise.
- Antonio: What a blow was there given! Sebastian: An it had not fall'n flat-long. - 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First...
- Yet the pittiless sword had such pity of so precious an object, that at first it did but hit flatlong - a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne;...
Origin
From alternation of the original flatling, by assimilating to long. More at flatling.