flake out

flake ¹  (flk)

n.

1. A flat thin piece or layer; a chip.

2. Archaeology A stone fragment removed from a core or from another flake by percussion or pressure, serving as a preform or as a tool or blade itself.

3. A small piece; a bit.

4. A small crystalline bit of snow.

5. Slang A somewhat eccentric person; an oddball.

6. Slang Cocaine.

v. flaked, flak·ing, flakes

v.tr.

1. To remove a flake or flakes from; chip.

2. To cover, mark, or overlay with or as if with flakes.

v.intr.

To come off in flat thin pieces or layers; chip off.

Phrasal Verb:

flake out Slang

1. To fall asleep or collapse from fatigue or exhaustion.

2. To act in an odd or eccentric manner.

3. To lose interest or nerve.

---

[Middle English; see plk-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

---

flaker n.

---

flake ²  (flk)

n.

1. A frame or platform for drying fish or produce.

2. A scaffold lowered over the side of a ship to support workers or caulkers.

---

[Middle English fleke, from Old Norse fleki, hurdle, shield used for defense in battle; see plk-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

---

flake out

Verb

Informal to collapse or fall asleep from exhaustion

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

flake out - change from a waking to a sleeping state; "he always falls asleep during lectures" dope off, doze off, drift off, drowse off, fall asleep, nod off, drop off zonk out - fall asleep fast, as when one is extremely tired; "after the long drive, we zonked out and slept for 10 hours"