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Webster 1913 Edition

Flaw

Flaw

(fla̤)
,
Noun.
[OE.
flai
,
flaw
flake; cf. Sw.
flaga
flaw, crack, breach, flake, D.
vlaag
gust of wind, Norw.
flage
,
flaag
, and E.
flag
a flat stone.]
1.
A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion;
as, a
flaw
in a knife or a vase
.
This heart
Shall break into a hundered thousand
flaws
.
Shakespeare
2.
A defect; a fault;
as, a
flaw
in reputation; a
flaw
in a will, in a deed, or in a statute.
Has not this also its
flaws
and its dark side?
South.
3.
A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.
[Obs.]
And deluges of armies from the town
Came pouring in; I heard the mighty
flaw
.
Dryden.
4.
A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and
flaw
.
Milton.
Syn. – Blemish; fault; imperfection; spot; speck.

Flaw

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Flawed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Flawing
.]
1.
To crack; to make flaws in.
The brazen caldrons with the frosts are
flawed
.
Dryden.
2.
To break; to violate; to make of no effect.
[Obs.]
France hath
flawed
the league.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Flaw

FLAW

,
Noun.
[Gr. seems to be contracted .
1.
A breach; a crack; a defect made by breaking or splitting; a gap or fissure; as a flaw in a scythe, knife or razor; a flaw in a china dish, or in a glass; a flaw in a wall.
2.
A defect; a fault; any defect made by violence, or occasioned by neglect; as a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a will, or in a deed, or in a statute.
3.
A sudden burst of wind; a sudden gust or blast of short duration; a word of common use among seamen. [This proves the primary sense to be, to burst or rush.]
4.
A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar.
And deluges of armies from the town
Came pouring in; I heard the mighty flaw.
[In this sense, the word is not used in the United States.]
5.
A sudden commotion of mind. [Not used.]

FLAW

, v.t.
1.
To break; to crack.
The brazen cauldrons with the frosts are flawed.
2.
To break; to violate; as, to flaw a league. [Little used.]

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