/flan, flahn/ ; for 1 also Sp. /flahn/ ; for 2 also Fr. /flahonn/ , n. , pl. flans /flanz, flahnz/ ; for 2 also Fr. /flahonn/ ; Sp. flanes /flah"nes/ for 1.
1. Spanish Cookery. a dessert of sweetened egg custard with a caramel topping.
2. an open, tartlike pastry, the shell of which is baked in a bottomless band of metal (flan ring) on a baking sheet, removed from the ring and filled with custard, cream, fruit, etc.
3. a piece of metal shaped ready to form a coin, but not yet stamped by the die.
4. the metal of which a coin is made, as distinct from its design.
[ 1840-50; flaon fladon-, s. of flado flado (G Fladen ) flat cake ]