Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin solea sandal, a flatfish
Date:
13th century
: any of various flatfishes (family Soleidae) having a small mouth, small or rudimentary fins, and small eyes placed close together and including important food fishes (as the European Dover sole); also: any of various mostly market flatfishes (as lemon sole) of other families (as Pleuronectidae)