FLUKE


Meaning of FLUKE in English

fluke 1

/floohk/ , n.

1. the part of an anchor that catches in the ground, esp. the flat triangular piece at the end of each arm. See diag. under anchor .

2. a barb, or the barbed head, of a harpoon, spear, arrow, or the like.

3. either half of the triangular tail of a whale.

[ 1555-65; perh. special use of FLUKE 3 ]

fluke 2

/floohk/ , n.

1. an accidental advantage; stroke of good luck: He got the job by a fluke.

2. an accident or chance happening.

3. an accidentally successful stroke, as in billiards.

[ 1855-60; of obscure orig.; cf. dial. fluke a guess ]

fluke 3

— flukeless , adj.

/floohk/ , n.

1. any of several American flounders of the genus Paralichthys, esp. P. dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. any of various other flatfishes.

3. a trematode.

[ bef. 900; ME flok ( e ), fluke, OE floc; c. ON floki; cf. OHG flah flat (G flach ) ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .