from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flask \Flask\ (fl[a^]sk or fl[.a]sk), n. [AS. flasce, flaxe;
akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw.
flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of
uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr.
fla`skh, fla`skwn, fla`skion. Cf. {Flagon}, {Flasket}.]
1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a
flask of oil or wine.
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2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various
purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of
wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat
water in, etc.
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3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] --Bailey.
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4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand,
etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of
two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the
cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When
there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three
part flask, four part flask, etc.
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{Erlenmeyer flask}, a thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and
cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents
laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from
Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it.
{Florence flask}. [From Florence in Italy.]
(a) Same as {Betty}, n., 3.
(b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or
flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating
solutions.
{Pocket flask}, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered
with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.
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