Flake

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, v.t. To form into flakes.
FLAKE, v.i. To break or separate in layers; to peel or scale off. We more usually say, to flake off.

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