Forms: 6–8 flook(e, 6 Sc. fluik, 7 flouke, (flouck), 8– fluke, [of uncertain origin; possibly a transferred use of FLUKE sb.1, from resemblance of shape; cf. the inadmissible suggestion in the following quot.

1

1886.  R. C. Leslie, Sea-painter’s Log, x. 200. The name ‘fluke’ or ‘flowk’ well expresses the shape of the flounder, which is that of the fluke of an old-fashioned anchor.

2

  See also FLUE sb.3 2.]

3

  1.  One of ‘the broad triangular plates of iron on each arm of the anchor, inside the bills or extreme points, which, having entered the ground, hold the ship’ (Admiral Smyth).

4

1561.  Eden, Arte Nauig., A iij b. The Thirreni founde the vse of the anker of one graspe or flooke.

5

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXXVII. xxx. 962. With the violence of the blow she shooke out her owne anker, which by one of the floukes tooke fast hold as if it had bene a grapling hooke by the pro of the other ship.

6

1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 115. All Hands haul’d, took a Turn round the Main-Mast, and went aft; which weigh’d the Grapenel, but streighten’d one of the Flukes.

7

1864.  Tennyson, En. Ard., 16.

        Among the waste and lumber of the shore,
Hard coils of cordage, swarthy fishing-nets,
Anchors of rusty fluke, and boats updrawn.

8

  b.  The barbed head of a lance, arrow, etc. Cf. FLUKED 1629. Also U.S. ‘one of the barbs of a harpoon or toggle-iron; a flue’ (Cent. Dict.).

9

a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xxviii. 55.

        And eviry shaft thairof must needs
To haif als mony heeds,
And euirie head als mony huikis,
And evirie huik als mony fluiks.

10

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage, V. xvii. (1614), 544. A great Launce couered with gold and the fluke set with stones: and are carried when the King goeth to warres in stead of colours.

11

1841.  Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), I. v. 33. The one [arrow] to be drawn upon an enemy, generally poisoned, and with long flukes or barbs, which are designed to hang the blade in the wound after the shaft is withdrawn, in which they are but slightly glued.

12

  c.  A name for various instruments resembling the prec. in shape: see quots.

13

1841.  Hartshorne, Salopia Antiqua, Gloss., 429. Fluke, a lancet used for letting blood from horses.

14

1849.  Weale, Dict. Terms, 189. Fluke, in mining, the head of a charger; an instrument used for cleansing the hole previous to blasting.

15

1878.  Cumberld. Gloss., Supp., Fleukk, the web of the plough sock.

16

  2.  pl. ‘The two parts which constitute the large triangular tail of the whale’ (Adm. Smyth). To turn or peak the flukes: of a whale, to go under (see quot. 1839); hence transf. (Naut. slang) to go to bed, ‘turn in.’

17

1725.  Dudley, in Phil. Trans., XXXIII. 256. While young, and carried by the Dam on the Flukes of their Tails.

18

1839.  T. Beale, Sperm Whale, 44. The flukes are then lifted high into the air, and the animal, having assumed a straight position, descends perpendicularly to an unknown depth,—this act is performed with regularity and slowness, and is called by whalers, ‘peaking the flukes.’

19

1851.  H. Melville, Whale, iii. 21. But come, it ’s getting dreadful late, you had better be turning flukes—it ’s a nice bed; Sal and me slept in that ’ere bed the night we were spliced.

20

1860.  Hartwig, Sea & Wond., vi. 79. Owing to the flexibility of the tail, the movements of the tail-fin, or ‘flukes,’ which sometimes measures eighteen feet across, are exceedingly extensive, whilst its power may be estimated by the gigantic bundles of round tendons, which pass on either side the loins, to be inserted into its base.

21

  3.  attrib. and Comb., as (light) fluke plough; fluke-chain, -rope, a chain or rope that is passed round the flukes of a whale to secure it when caught.

22

1851.  H. Melville, Whale, lxxxi. 399. By very heedful management, when the ship drew nigh, the whale was transferred to her side, and was strongly secured there by the stiffest fluke-chains, for it was plain that unless artificially upheld, the body would at once sink to the bottom.

23

1775.  Washington, Writ. (1889), II. 461. Get 2 light *fluke Plows.

24

  Hence Fluked a., having flukes.

25

1619.  Z. Boyd, Battell Soul (1629), I. 14. Death indeed is fearfull, armed with waues & snares: We in our weaknesse make it also fearfull, painting it with bare bones, with a skul, girning with its teeth, and with its sting, like a flooked Dart, for to pierce thorow the heart of man.

26

1831.  J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, I. 96–7. Three or four fluked anchors are to be constructed in parts in a similar manner.

27