noun the part of an anchor that catches in the ground, especially the flat triangular piece at the end of each arm.
a barb, or the barbed head, of a harpoon, spear, arrow, or the like.
either half of the triangular tail of a whale.
Origin of fluke 1 First recorded in
1555–65; perhaps special use of
fluke3 noun an accidental advantage; stroke of good luck: He got the job by a fluke.
an accident or chance happening.
an accidentally successful stroke, as in billiards.
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Origin of fluke 2 First recorded in 1855–60; of obscure origin; compare dial. fluke a guess
noun any of several American flounders of the genus Paralichthys, especially P. dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean.
any of various other flatfishes.
a trematode.
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Origin of fluke 3 before 900; Middle English flok(e ), fluke, Old English flōc; cognate with Old Norse flōki; compare Old High German flah flat (German flach )
Related forms fluke·less , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for fluke Contemporary Examples of fluke In 1989, a newly registered Republican in Louisiana named David Duke won his only election by a fluke .
“Sandra Fluke Aborts Congressional Bid,” read another headline on Breitbart after Fluke opted to run instead for the state Senate.
From the moment the word was out that Fluke was considering a run for office, she was the subject of right-wing side-eye.
Having her as our guest was a fluke of Divine Order and a true example of Ask and You shall receive.
It was a chance occurrence, something of a fluke , but it was meant to be.
Historical Examples of fluke He doesn't seem to know me at all, and I believe his shot at me by way of my father was a fluke .
Jenkins was reliable, usually, and hadn't come up with a fluke yet.
This time there could be no fluke , for the great Red McGloin was up on the favorite.
He was to ride; ride the winner of the last Carter, the winner of a fluke race.
He is most awfully rich, too, and he came into his money quite by a fluke .
British Dictionary definitions for fluke noun Also called: flue a flat bladelike projection at the end of the arm of an anchor
either of the two lobes of the tail of a whale or related animal
Also called: flue the barb or barbed head of a harpoon, arrow, etc
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Word Origin for fluke C16: perhaps a special use of fluke ³ (in the sense: a flounder)
noun an accidental stroke of luck
any chance happening
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verb (tr) to gain, make, or hit by a fluke
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Word Origin for fluke C19: of unknown origin
noun any parasitic flatworm, such as the blood fluke and liver fluke, of the classes Monogenea and Digenea (formerly united in a single class Trematoda )
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Word Origin for fluke Old English flōc ; related to Old Norse flōki flounder, Old Saxon flaka sole, Old High German flah smooth
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
Word Origin and History for fluke n.1 "flat end of an arm of an anchor," 1560s, perhaps from fluke (n.3) on resemblance of shape, or from Low German flügel "wing." Meaning "whale's tail" (in plural, flukes ) is 1725.
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n.2 "lucky stroke, chance hit," 1857, originally a lucky shot at billiards, of uncertain origin.
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n.3 "flatfish," Old English floc "flatfish," related to Old Norse floke "flatfish," flak "disk, floe" (see flake (n.)). The parasite worm (1660s) so called from resemblance of shape.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Either of the two flattened fins of a whale's tail.
See trematode .
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
