flèche

American  

[fleysh, flesh] / fleɪʃ, flɛʃ /

noun

flèches plural

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.

3. 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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flèche British  

/ flɛʃ, fleɪʃ /

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

3. fencing a short running attack

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Etymology

Origin of flèche

1700–10; < French: literally, arrow, probably < Germanic. Cf. fly ²

Example Sentences

Around this great flèche, he concocted a fantastical menagerie of apostles and mythical creatures – most of which appear to have been saved from the flames, having already been removed for restoration.

From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2019

As originally designed the Chapel was to have had a slender flèche instead of a tower.

From St. John's College, Cambridge by New, E. H. (Edmund Hort)

‘Let us go to the platform at the base of the flèche, and wait for a view there.’

From The Hand of Ethelberta by Hardy, Thomas

A characteristic feature of Hertfordshire churches—rare elsewhere—is the narrow tapering flèche, or leaded spire; a feature almost wholly absent is the apse, which is, I believe, present only at Bengeo, Great Wymondley, and Amwell.

From Hertfordshire by New, E. H. (Edmund Hort)

We saw the weather-beaten, leaden flèche of the cathedral high on the hill, but for the time were satisfied to study the many ancient houses which still remain.

From Hospital Sketches by Peabody, Robert Swain