What is "fluke"

Fluke \Fluke\ (fl[=u]k or fl[=oo]k), n. [Cf. AS. fl[=o]c a kind of flatfish, Icel. fl[=o]ki a kind of halibut.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) The European flounder. See Flounder. [Written also fleuk, flook, and flowk.]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any American flounder of the genus Paralichthys, especially Paralicthys dentatus, found in the Atlantic Ocean and in adjacent bays.
   --RHUD

3. (Zo["o]l.) A parasitic trematode worm of several species, having a flat, lanceolate body and two suckers. Two species ( Fasciola hepatica and Distoma lanceolatum) are found in the livers of sheep, and produce the disease called rot.

Fluke \Fluke\ (fl[=u]k), n. [Cf. LG. flunk, flunka wing, the palm of an anchor; perh. akin to E. fly.]

1. The part of an anchor which fastens in the ground; a flook. See Anchor.

2. (Zo["o]l.) One of the lobes of a whale's tail, so called from the resemblance to the fluke of an anchor.

3. An instrument for cleaning out a hole drilled in stone for blasting.

4. An accidental and favorable stroke at billiards (called a scratch in the United States); hence, any accidental or unexpected advantage; as, he won by a fluke. [Cant, Eng.]
   --A. Trollope.

Fluke \Fluke\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Fluked; p. pr. & vb. n. Fluking.] To get or score by a fluke; as, to fluke a play in billiards.

"flat end of an arm of an anchor," 1560s, perhaps from fluke (n.3) on resemblance of shape, or from Low German flügel "wing." Transferred meaning "whale's tail" (in plural, flukes) is by 1725, so called from resemblance.

"lucky stroke, chance hit," 1857, also flook, said to be originally a lucky shot at billiards, of uncertain origin. Century Dictionary connects it with fluke (n.1) in reference to the whale's use of flukes to get along rapidly (to go a-fluking or some variant of it, "go very fast," is in Dana, Smythe, and other sailors' books of the era). OED (2nd ed. print) allows only that it is "Possibly of Eng. dialectal origin."

"flatfish," Old English floc "flatfish," related to Old Norse floke "flatfish," flak "disk, floe," from Proto-Germanic *flok-, from PIE root *plak- (1) "to be flat" (see placenta). The parasite worm (1660s) so called from resemblance of shape.

Etymology 1 n. A lucky or improbable occurrence, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated. vb. 1 To obtain a successful outcome by pure chance. 2 (context snooker English) To fortuitously pot a ball in an unintended way. Etymology 2

n. 1 A flounder. 2 A trematode; a parasitic flatworm of the Trematoda class, related to the tapeworm. Etymology 3

n. 1 Either of the two lobes of a whale's or similar creature's tail. 2 (context nautical English) Any of the triangular blades at the end of an anchor, designed to catch the ground. 3 A metal hook on the head of certain staff weapons (such as a bill#Etymology 1), made in various forms depending on function, whether used for grappling or to penetrate armour when swung at an opponent. 4 In general, a winglike formation on a central piece.

1. n. a stroke of luck [syn: good luck, good fortune]

2. a barb on a harpoon or arrow

3. flat blade-like projection on the arm of an anchor [syn: flue]

4. either of the two lobes of the tail of a cetacean

5. parasitic flatworms having external suckers for attaching to a host [syn: trematode, trematode worm]

A fluke is a lucky or improbable occurrence, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated.

Fluke may also refer to:

Fluke is a 1995 drama film directed by Carlo Carlei and starring Matthew Modine as the voice of the title character with supporting roles featuring Eric Stoltz, Nancy Travis, Max Pomeranc, Bill Cobbs, Ron Perlman, Jon Polito and Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of Rumbo. The film was based on the novel of the same name by James Herbert.

Fluke is the debut full-length studio album by Canadian alternative rock band Rusty, released in 1995. The album was nominated for " Best Alternative Album" at the 1996 Juno Awards.

Fluke are an English electronic music group formed in the late 1980s by Mike Bryant, Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier with Julian Nugent as the band's manager. The band's conception was influenced by the members interest in the burgeoning acid house music scene and particularly the work of Cabaret Voltaire and Giorgio Moroder.

The band are noted for their diverse range of electronic styles spanning the house, techno, ambient and blues genres; for their reclusivity, rarely giving interviews; and for lengthy timespans between albums. Many listeners know of Fluke only through the inclusion of their music in many blockbuster film soundtracks—most notably The Matrix Reloaded and Sin City—as well as featuring prominently on the soundtracks to Need for Speed: Underground and the Wipeout video game series. The film The Experiment uses their song "YKK".

To date Fluke have produced five original studio albums, two "best of" compilations and two live albums. Throughout their career they have made several changes to their line-up with credited appearances attributed to Neil Davenport playing guitars, Robin Goodridge on drums and Hugh Bryder as a DJ. When Fluke were touring for Risotto they were joined on stage by Rachel Stewart who acted as a personification of the band's official mascot, a character from the Wipeout series named Arial Tetsuo. Stewart continued as lead female vocalist and as a dancer for all of Fluke's live performances between 1997 and 1999.

After Risotto, Mike Tournier left the group to form Syntax with Jan Burton. Mike Bryant and Jon Fugler went on to produce Fluke's latest studio album without Tournier's help and the pair have subsequently engaged in projects under the name 2 Bit Pie, with their debut album 2Pie Island released on 4 September 2006. The musical activities of Mike Tournier remain unknown at present.