flour
UK[ˈflaʊə]US[ˈflaʊər]
n
A fine, soft powder made by grinding grain, typically wheat, used for making bread, cakes, etc.
Etymology
The word 'flour' is a specialized spelling variant of 'flower', originating in the early 13th century. It derives from Old French 'flour', 'flor', meaning "flower, blossom; flour; prime, finest part", which itself comes from Latin 'flōrem', the accusative of 'flōs', meaning "flower". The semantic logic is metaphorical: just as the flower is the finest part of a plant, the 'flour' was considered the finest, most desirable part of the meal after sifting, separating it from the coarser bran. This distinction in meaning between the "blossom" and the "finest ground grain" became fixed in English by the late 18th century with the standardized spelling 'flour' for the powder.
Analysis
The word 'flour' is a simplex word derived from a specific semantic narrowing of the word 'flower'. It is not productively composed of smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She sifted the flour into a large mixing bowl.
This recipe calls for two cups of all-purpose flour.
The mill has been producing stone-ground flour for over a century.