fleak

Definitions

1. Synonym of flake.
   dialectal
2. A small, light piece that is only loosely joined to something else, and which has a tendency to detach.
   dialectal
3. A thin piece that is chipped or peeled off from the surface of something else.
   dialectal
4. A thin piece that the flesh of some animals (such as fish) tends to break into.
   dialectal

Examples

“The uſes indeed of the forenamed Plants are ſo univerſall, and take⟳ place⟳ ſo in every affaire of Man, that if it vvere lavvfull to be a little merry in ſo ſerious a matter⟳, a man might not unfittingly apply⟳ that verſe of the Poet [Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto (Letters from the Black Sea), book IV, 3-35] to this ſo generall a commodity; / Omnia ſunt homini tenui pendentia filo. / That all the buſineſſes of Men do very much depend⟳ upon theſe little long fleaks or threds of Hempe and Flaxa.”

“Above that Region the Wind blew at South-weſt by South, as appeared by ſome ſmall Fleaks of Clouds coming from that Quarter.”

“Plutarke alſo calleth this beaſt a meticulous and fearefull beaſt, and in this cauſe concludeth the change⟳ of his colour, not as ſome ſay, to auoyde and deceiue the beholders and to vvorke out his ovvne happineuſſe, but for meere dread and terrour. […] But I for my part doe aſſigne the true cauſe to bee in the thinneſſe of their skinne, and therefore may eaſily take⟳ impreſſion of any colour, like⟳ to a thin fleake of a horne, vvhich being layde ouer blacke, ſeemeth blacke, and ſo ouer other colours: […]”

“Now, it is very demonſtrable from vvhat has been ſaid, that all ſuch Effects may be produc'd by a Prick of a Nail, a Stub, or a Fleak, when it ſticks in thoſe tender ſenſible Parts, […] [I]f there be any Fleak or Piece of Nail remaining in the Quick, vvhich may be knovvn by examining the Nail you have⟳ pull'd out, or by the continued Pain, with a conſtant Diſcharge of matter⟳, you may introduce⟳ a Piece of dry Spunge, made in form⟳ of a Tent, vvith a Thread dravvn through the End⟳ of it: […]”

“Upon Examination, I found that they [the fat] conſiſted of regular large Laminæ: vvhich vvere eaſily ſeparable from one another, in broad Fleaks; […]”

CEFR level