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. [ 1913 Webster ] Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash. [ 1913 Webster ] With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. a person who behaves strangely; a flaky{ 2 } person. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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