flèche
[ fleysh; French flesh ]
/ fleɪʃ; French flɛʃ /
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noun, plural flè·ches [fley-shiz; French flesh]. /ˈfleɪ ʃɪz; French flɛʃ/.
Architecture. a steeple or spire, especially one in the Gothic style, emerging from the ridge of a roof.
Fortification. a fieldwork consisting of two faces forming a salient angle with an open gorge.
Fencing. a method of attack with saber or épée in which the attacker leaves from the rear foot and advances rapidly toward the opponent.
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Origin of flèche
1700–10; <French: literally, arrow, probably <Germanic. Cf. fly2
Words nearby flèche
flea-flicker, fleam, flea market, fleapit, fleawort, flèche, flèches d'amour, fléchette, fleck, Flecker, flection
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use flèche in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for flèche
flèche
/ (fleɪʃ, flɛʃ) /
noun
Also called: spirelet a slender spire, esp over the intersection of the nave and transept ridges of a church roof
a pointed part of a fortification directed towards the attackers
fencing a short running attack
Word Origin for flèche
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
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