Flāke1, n.
n. [A-S. flace, N. H. Ger. flocke, O. H. Ger. flocco, floccho, M. H. Ger. vlocke, D. vlok, flock, tuft, flake, Lat. floccus; D. vlak, a hurdle for wool. See FLOCK.]
Sense 1. A loose filmy or scale-like mass of any thing; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, of flesh, or tallow. “Little flakes of scurf.” Addison.
Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn.
Sense 2. A portion of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash. [Obs.]
As it had been a flake of lightning. Spenser.
Sense 3. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish, and other things. [Massachusetts.]
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.
Sense 4. (Naut.) A small stage hung over the ship’s side, for workmen to stand on in calking, &c.
Sense 5. A sort of carnation of two colors only, having large stripes going through the leaves. Loudon.