Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
FLAKE
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English; akin to Old English flacor flying (of arrows), Old Norse flakna to flake off, split
Date: 14th century
a small loose mass or bit , a thin flattened piece or layer ; chip , cocaine , flake tool ,
II. verb (flaked; flaking)
Date: 1602
transitive verb to cover with or as if with flakes, to form or break into flakes ; chip , intransitive verb to separate into flakes,
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English flake, fleke hurdle; akin to Middle Dutch vlāke, vlaec hurdle, Old Norse flaki
Date: 1623
a stage, platform, or tray for drying fish or produce,
IV. noun
Etymology: perhaps from flake out
Date: 1964
a person who is flaky ; oddball