fluke

n. (Mining) Flucan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. AS. flōc a kind of flatfish, Icel. flōki a kind of halibut. ] 1. (Zool.) The European flounder. See Flounder. [ Written also fleuk, flook, and flowk. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any American flounder of the genus Paralichthys, especially Paralicthys dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean and in adjacent bays. RHUD [ PJC ]

3. (Zool.) A parasitic trematode worm of several species, having a flat, lanceolate body and two suckers. Two species (Fasciola hepatica and Distoma lanceolatum) are found in the livers of sheep, and produce the disease called rot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LG. flunk, flunka wing, the palm of an anchor; perh. akin to E. fly. ] 1. The part of an anchor which fastens in the ground; a flook. See Anchor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) One of the lobes of a whale's tail, so called from the resemblance to the fluke of an anchor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An instrument for cleaning out a hole drilled in stone for blasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An accidental and favorable stroke at billiards (called a scratch in the United States); hence, any accidental or unexpected advantage; as, he won by a fluke. [ Cant, Eng. ] A. Trollope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Fluked p. pr. & vb. n. Fluking ] To get or score by a fluke; as, to fluke a play in billiards. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]