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 ) ]