flake knife

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Flake \Flake\ (fl[=a]k), 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. [1913 Webster]

Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat.— Evelyn.[1913 Webster]

2.A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash. [1913 Webster]

With flakes of ruddy fire.— Somerville.[1913 Webster]

3.(Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes. [1913 Webster]

4.a person who behaves strangely; a flaky[2] person. [Colloq.] [PJC]

Flake knife (Arch[ae]ol.), 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. [1913 Webster]