flèche

[ fleysh; French flesh ]

noun,plural flè·ches [fley-shiz; French flesh]. /ˈfleɪ ʃɪz; French flɛʃ/.
  1. Architecture. a steeple or spire, especially one in the Gothic style, emerging from the ridge of a roof.

  2. Fortification. a fieldwork consisting of two faces forming a salient angle with an open gorge.

  1. Fencing. a method of attack with saber or épée in which the attacker leaves from the rear foot and advances rapidly toward the opponent.

Origin of flèche

1
1700–10; <French: literally, arrow, probably <Germanic. Cf. fly2

Words Nearby flèche

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flèche in a sentence

  • Half way up there seemed to be stretched a par-fleche (raw-hide), from which a dim light emanated.

    Old Indian Days | [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman
  • Conceive that they have enabled me to seize La Fleche, the most dangerous, insidious and skilful of all Napoleon's agents.

    The Snare | Rafael Sabatini
  • He had a priest with him, one La Fleche, whom he urged to the pious work.

  • Just as they neared La Fleche, a squadron of the enemy's cavalry fell upon the rear of the column.

    No Surrender! | G. A. Henty
  • It was a strongly-built square redoubt, the entrance being protected by a fleche.

    Travels Through North America, v. 1-2 | Berhard Saxe-Weimar Eisenach

British Dictionary definitions for flèche

flèche

/ (fleɪʃ, flɛʃ) /


noun
  1. Also called: spirelet a slender spire, esp over the intersection of the nave and transept ridges of a church roof

  2. a pointed part of a fortification directed towards the attackers

  1. fencing a short running attack

Origin of flèche

1
C18: from French: spire (literally: arrow), probably of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German flieke long arrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012