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flak

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flak

[flak]
–noun
1. antiaircraft fire, esp. as experienced by the crews of combat airplanes at which the fire is directed.
2. criticism; hostile reaction; abuse: Such an unpopular decision is bound to draw a lot of flak from the press.
Also, flack.


Origin:
1935–40; < G Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone) antiaircraft gun, equiv. to Flieger aircraft (lit., flyer) + Abwehr defense + Kanone gun, cannon
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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flak also flack   (flāk)   
n.  
    1. Antiaircraft artillery.

    2. The bursting shells fired from such artillery.

    3. Excessive or abusive criticism.

    4. Dissension; opposition.

  1. Informal

    1. Excessive or abusive criticism.

    2. Dissension; opposition.


[German, from Fl(ieger)a(bwehr)k(anone), aircraft-defense gun.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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