FLAKE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English; akin to Old English flacor flying (of arrows), Old Norse flakna to ~ off, split Date: 14th century a small loose mass or bit , a thin flattened piece or layer ; chip , cocaine , ~ tool , II. verb (~d; flaking) Date: 1602 transitive verb to cover with or as if with ~s, to form or break into ~s ; chip , intransitive verb to separate into ~s, III. noun Etymology: Middle English ~, fleke hurdle; akin to Middle Dutch vlāke, vlaec hurdle, Old Norse flaki Date: 1623 a stage, platform, or tray for drying fish or produce, IV. noun Etymology: perhaps from ~ out Date: 1964 a person who is flaky ; oddball