flaky

flaky
flaky (adj.) 1570s, from FLAKE (Cf. flake) + -Y (Cf. -y) (2). Meaning "eccentric, crazy" first recorded 1959, said to be American English baseball slang, but probably from earlier druggie slang flake "cocaine" (1920s). Flake "eccentric person" is a 1968 back-formation from it.
The term 'flake' needs explanation. It's an insider's word, used throughout baseball, usually as an adjective; someone is considered 'flaky.' It does not mean anything so crude as 'crazy,' but it's well beyond 'screwball' and far off to the side of 'eccentric.' ["New York Times," April 26, 1964]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Flaky — Flak y, a. 1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike. [1913 Webster] What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires! Watts. [1913 Webster] A flaky weight of winter s purest snows.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flaky — [adj] eccentric birdy*, crazy, goofy*, half cracked, haywire, nutty, odd, peculiar, queer, screwy, unconventional, wacky; concepts 547,564 …   New thesaurus

  • flaky — ► ADJECTIVE (flakier, flakiest) 1) breaking or separating easily into flakes. 2) N. Amer. informal crazy or eccentric. DERIVATIVES flakiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • flaky — [flāk′ē] adj. flakier, flakiest 1. containing or made up of flakes 2. breaking easily into flakes ☆ 3. Slang very eccentric, erratic, irrational, etc. flakily adv. flakiness n …   English World dictionary

  • flaky — [“fleki] 1. mod. unreliable. □ She’s too flaky to hold the job. □ He’s a flaky dude. □ I’m getting so flaky. Must be old age. 2. mod. habituated to the use of cocaine. (Drugs.) □ …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • flaky — flak|y [ˈfleıki] adj 1.) tending to break into small thin pieces ▪ flaky pastry ▪ flaky skin 2.) informal especially AmE a flaky person is slightly strange or often forgets things ▪ Carrie s pretty flaky but she s fun to be with. >flakiness n… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flaky — [[t]fle͟ɪki[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED Something that is flaky breaks easily into small thin pieces or tends to come off in small thin pieces. ...a small patch of red, flaky skin. 2) ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe an idea, argument, or person… …   English dictionary

  • flaky — UK [ˈfleɪkɪ] / US adjective Word forms flaky : adjective flaky comparative flakier superlative flakiest 1) a) breaking easily into small flat pieces flaky chocolate b) breaking off a surface in small flat pieces flaky paintwork/skin 2) informal… …   English dictionary

  • flaky — I. adjective also flakey (flakier; est) Date: 1580 1. consisting of flakes < flaky snow > 2. tending to flake < a flaky crust > • flakiness noun II …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flaky — flak|y [ fleıki ] adjective 1. ) breaking easily into small flat pieces: flaky chocolate a ) breaking off a surface in small flat pieces: flaky paintwork/skin 2. ) INFORMAL crazy …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”