fluke etymology

Etymology:

The word "fluke" has several possible etymologies:

• Scandinavian: Derived from the Old Norse word "flúka," meaning a "flatfish" or "flounder."
• Dutch: May be related to the Dutch word "fluik," meaning a flat, oval-shaped object.
• English: Potentially from the Middle English word "flok," meaning a "lock" or "tuft of hair," possibly referring to the shape of a fluke.

Meaning and Origin:

In its original sense, "fluke" referred to a flatfish or flounder. Over time, the word acquired several extended meanings:

• Unexpected success or luck: This usage is a metaphor based on the unpredictable nature of flatfish movements, which can make them difficult to catch.
• A hooked or pointed end: This meaning derives from the shape of the tail or fin of a flatfish, which resembles a hook.
• A part of a mechanical or engineering device: This usage refers to a flat, fin-like component that guides or stabilizes movement.

The expression "by fluke" is often used to emphasize the unexpected or accidental nature of an outcome.

fluke relate terms

• fluky

  Etymology The word fluky is derived from the Middle English word fluke which means

• fluke

  Etymology The word fluke has several possible etymologies Scandinavian Derived fro

• flag

  Etymology Old English fleg ge masc floga fem meaning cloth piece of clot

• flagstone

  Etymology Flag from Old English flagg meaning a piece of cloth or skin attached to

• flake

  Etymology The word flake comes from the Old Norse word flaka which means a thin pie

• flaw

  Etymology The word flaw is derived from the Old French word flawe which in turn come

• floe

  Etymology Old English flōwende a floating mass of ice Ultimately derived from Prot

• fluke

  Etymology The word fluke has several possible etymologies Scandinavian Derived fro

• placenta

  Etymology The word placenta comes from the Latin word placenta which means flat ca

• plagal

  Etymology The word plagal is derived from the Greek word plagios meaning oblique o

• plagiarism

  Etymology The word plagiarism comes from the Latin word plagiarius which means kidn

• planchet

  Etymology The word planchet comes from the Old French word planche meaning small p

• plank

  Etymology The word plank derives from the Middle English word planke which in turn

• flue

  Etymology Middle English flu Old French flus flux Latin fluxus flow discharge

• fortune

  Etymology From Middle English fortune noun and verb from Old French fortune from La

• barb

  Etymology The word barb comes from the Middle English word barbe itself derived fro

• anchor

  Etymology The word anchor comes from the Greek word ankhura which means hook Me

• tail

  Etymology Origin Middle English taile Latin talea meaning a cutting a slice

• luck

  Etymology The word luck derives from the Middle English word lok ke which in turn

• projection

  Etymology The word projection comes from the Latin word proiectus which means to th

• fuel

  Etymology Fuel Middle English c 1300 fuel from Anglo French fuail foail from Ol

• bowler

  Etymology and Origin The word bowler has two distinct etymologies 1 Bowler Person w

• serendipity

  Etymology The word serendipity comes from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of