Flake (flAk), n. [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.]
1.
A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]
2.
A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.
You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have straw nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth table, boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer.
English Husbandman.
3. (Naut.)
A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on in calking, etc.
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Flake (flAk), n. [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna to flake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake. Cf. Flag a flat stone.]
1.
A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish. "Lottle flakes of scurf." Addison.
Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat.
Evelyn.
2.
A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash.
With flakes of ruddy fire.
Somerville.
3. (Bot.)
A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes.
Flake knife (Archæol.), a cutting instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard stone. Tylor. --
Flake stand, the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight. --
Flake white. (Paint.)
(a) The purest white lead, in the form of flakes or scales.
(b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.
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Flake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.]
To form into flakes. Pope.
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Flake, v. i.
To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.
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Flake (?), n. [Etym. uncertain; cf. 1st Fake.]
A flat layer, or fake, of a coiled cable.
Flake after flake ran out of the tubs, until we were compelled to hand the end of our line to the second mate.
F. T. Bullen.
© Webster 1913