flue

¹

[ floo ]

noun

1. a passage or duct for smoke in a chimney.
2. any duct or passage for air, gas, or the like.
3. a tube, especially a large one, in a fire-tube boiler.
4. Music.
   1. flue pipe.
   2. Also called windway. a narrow slit in the upper end of an organ pipe through which the air current is directed.

flue

²

[ floo ]

noun

1. downy matter; fluff.

flue

³

or flew

[ floo ]

noun

1. a fishing net.

flue

¹

/ fluː /

noun

1. another word for fluke 1 fluke 1

flue

²

/ fluː /

noun

1. a shaft, tube, or pipe, esp as used in a chimney, to carry off smoke, gas, etc
2. music the passage in an organ pipe or flute within which a vibrating air column is set up See also flue pipe

flue

³

/ fluː /

noun

1. a type of fishing net

flue

⁴

/ fluː /

noun

1. loose fluffy matter; down

Derived Forms

• flued, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flue¹

First recorded in 1555–65; earlier flew; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English flēwsa “a flowing, flux,” the form flews being taken as plural

Origin of flue²

First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English flug- (in flugol “swift, fleeting”); perhaps from Flemish Dutch vluwe, from French velu “hairy, downy”; velvet ( def )

Origin of flue³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English flue, flowe, flew, from Middle Dutch vl(o)uwe “fishing net”; akin to Old English flōwan flow ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of flue¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of flue²

Middle English, from Middle Dutch vlūwe

Origin of flue³

C16: from Flemish vluwe , from Old French velu shaggy

Example Sentences

Cavaill-Coll subsequently utilized slightly increased pressures for the trebles of his flue stops as well as for his larger reeds.

From Project Gutenberg

The flue from the engine is carried through the drying room and dries his leather.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the first to show that reeds could be made really beautiful and fit for use without help from flue stops.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Pedal department no reed or flue pipe can begin to compare with a Diaphone, either in attack or in volume of tone.

From Project Gutenberg

The inner or first tube forms the fire-place and flue, and at the same time the inner side of the boiler.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chimney
• duct