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Fluke vs Flake - What's the difference?

fluke | flake |

In nautical terms the difference between fluke and flake

is that fluke is any of the triangular blades at the end of an anchor, designed to catch the ground while flake is a small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on while calking, etc.

As nouns the difference between fluke and flake

is that fluke is a lucky or improbable occurrence, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated while flake is a loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, paint, or fish.

As verbs the difference between fluke and flake

is that fluke is to obtain a successful outcome by pure chance while flake is to break or chip off in a flake.

As a proper noun Fluke

is {{surname|from=|lang=en}.

fluke

English

Etymology 1

Of uncertain or obscure origin. It seems to have originally referred to a lucky shot at billiards.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A lucky or improbable occurrence, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated.
  • The first goal was just a fluke .

    Verb

    (fluk)
  • To obtain a successful outcome by pure chance.
  • I fluked a pass in the multiple-choice exam.
  • (snooker) To fortuitously pot a ball in an unintended way.
  • He fluked the other red into the middle pocket, despite the double kiss.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A flounder.
  • A trematode; a parasitic flatworm of the Trematoda class, related to the tapeworm.
  • The man had become infected with flukes after eating a meal of raw fish.

    Etymology 3

    Possibly as Etymology 2 or from (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Either of the two lobes of a whale's or similar creature's tail.
  • The dolphin had an open wound on the left fluke of its tail where the propeller had injured it.
  • (nautical) Any of the triangular blades at the end of an anchor, designed to catch the ground.
  • The fluke of the anchor was wedged between two outcroppings of rock and could not be dislodged.
  • A metal hook on the head of certain staff weapons (such as a ), made in various forms depending on function, whether used for grappling or to penetrate armour when swung at an opponent.
  • The polearm had a wide, sharpened fluke attached to the central point.
  • In general, a winglike formation on a central piece.
  • After casting the bronze statue, we filed down the flukes and spurs from the molding process.
    Derived terms
    * turn flukes

    References

    * Wikipedia article on trematode

    flake

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, paint, or fish.
  • There were a few flakes of paint on the floor from when we were painting the walls.
    flakes of dandruff
  • (archaeology) A prehistoric tool chipped out of stone.
  • (informal) A person who is impractical, flighty, unreliable, or inconsistent; especially with maintaining a living.
  • She makes pleasant conversation, but she's kind of a flake when it comes time for action.
  • A carnation with only two colours in the flower, the petals having large stripes.
  • Verb

  • To break or chip off in a flake.
  • The paint flaked off after only a year.
  • (colloquial) To prove unreliable or impractical; to abandon or desert, to fail to follow through.
  • He said he'd come and help, but he flaked .
  • (technical) To store an item such as rope in layers
  • The line is flaked into the container for easy attachment and deployment.
  • (Ireland, slang) to hit (another person).
  • Derived terms
    * flake off * flake out

    Etymology 2

    A name given to dogfish to improve its marketability as a food, perhaps from etymology 1.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (UK) Dogfish.
  • (Australia) The meat of the gummy shark.
  • * 1999 , R. Shotton, , Case studies of the management of elasmobranch fisheries , Part 1, page 746,
  • Larger shark received about 10%/kg less than those in the 4-6 kg range. Most of the Victorian landed product is wholesaled as carcasses on the Melbourne Fish Market where it is sold to fish and chip shops, the retail sector and through restaurants as ‘flake ’.
  • * 2007 , Archie Gerzee, WOW! Tales of a Larrikin Adventurer , page 141,
  • The local fish shop sold a bit of flake (shark) but most people were too spoiled to eat shark. The main item on the Kiwi table was still snapper, and there was plenty of them, caught by the Kiwis themselves, so no shortage whatsoever.
  • * 2007 , Lyall Robert Ford, 101 ways to Improve Your Health , page 45,
  • Until recently, deep-sea fish were considered to have insignificant levels of mercury but even these now contain higher levels than they used to, so you should also avoid the big fish like tuna, swordfish, and flake (shark) that are highest up the food chain.

    Etymology 3

    Compare Icelandic flaki''?, ''fleki''?, Danish ''flage'', Dutch ''vlaak .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A paling; a hurdle.
  • A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.
  • * English Husbandman
  • 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.
  • (nautical) A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on while calking, etc.
  • References

    *