flake
UK: fleɪk | US: fleɪk
n. a small, flat, thin piece of something, typically broken off or peeled from a larger object
n. an unreliable or eccentric person (informal)
vi. to break or fall off in small flat pieces
The word "flake" traces back to Old English flacca or flocan, meaning "to split or break off." It is related to Old Norse flak ("loose or torn piece") and German Flocke ("flake or snowflake"). The core idea revolves around fragmentation or detachment, which persists in modern meanings—whether describing physical fragments (snowflakes, paint flakes) or metaphorical "fragmentation" of behavior (an unreliable person). The silent "e" is a common Middle English addition to mark vowel length.
Snow began to fall in large, wet flakes.
The old paint is starting to flake off the walls.
He’s a bit of a flake—always canceling plans last minute.
She brushed a flake of dandruff from her shoulder.
The fish was coated in crispy corn flakes.