FLAKE, n. L. floccus Gr. Flake and flock are doubtless the same word, varied in orthography, and connected perhaps with L. plico, Gr. The sense is a complication, a crowd, or a lay.
1. A small collection of snow, as it falls from the clouds or from the air a little bunch or cluster of snowy crystals, such as fall in still moderate weather. This is a flake, lock or flock of snow.
2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, on which cod-fish is dried.
3. A layer or stratum as a flake of flesh or tallow.
Job 41 .
4. A collection or little particle of fire, or of combustible matter on fire, separated and flying off.
5. Any scaly matter in layers any mass cleaving off in scales.
Little flakes of scurf.
6. A sort of carnations of two colors only, having large stripes going through the leaves.
White-flake, in painting, is lead corroded by means of the pressing of grapes, or a ceruse prepared by the acid of grapes. It is brought from Italy, and of a quality superior to common white lead. It is used in oil and varnished painting, when a clean white is required.
FLAKE, To form into flakes.
FLAKE, To break or separate in layers to peel or scale off. We more usually say, to flake off.