Flake (flāk), 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.
Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn.
2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash.
With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville.
3. (Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes.
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.