fluke

Meanings

Noun

• A lucky or improbable occurrence, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated.
• A flounder.
• A trematode; a parasitic flatworm of the Trematoda class, related to the tapeworm.
• Either of the two lobes of a whale's or similar creature's tail.
• Any of the triangular blades at the end of an anchor, designed to catch the ground.
• A metal hook on the head of certain staff weapons (such as a bill), made in various forms depending on function, whether used for grappling or to penetrate armour when swung at an opponent.
• In general, a winglike formation on a central piece.
• Waste cotton.

Verb

• To obtain a successful outcome by pure chance.
• To fortuitously pot a ball in an unintended way.

Related

Similar words

• glitch

Origin

• Of uncertain or obscure origin, perhaps dialectal. It seems to have originally referred to a lucky shot at billiards. Possibly connected to fluke#Etymology_3, referring to whales' use of flukes to move rapidly.
• From Old English flōc ("flatfish"), of Germanic origin, related to German flach ("flat"), Old Norse floke ("flatfish"), all ultimately from Proto-Germanic *flakaz.
• Possibly as Etymology 2 or from Middle Low German flügel ("wing"), from Old High German vlügel, from Proto-Germanic *flugilaz ("wing").