Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

Below is the definition of "fluke". What is an arm in 1?

1. The flat, triangular piece at the end of an arm of an anchor.
2. A barb or barbed head on a harpoon, arrow, etc.
3. Either of the two lobes of a whale's tail.
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Hiromichi

[educe22]

Take a clue from the other two meanings. Apparently a fluke is like a barb as on a fish hook. The traditional anchor is shaped like a "T" with the top crossbar curved. Now, imagine the crossbar to have arrows on each end. Those arrows or triangles are the flukes.

Now imagine a loop, like the eye of a needle at the end of the vertical bar. This would be to hold the chain or rope from the boat or ship. Invert this image to get a mental picture of the anchor shape positioned to lower into the water.

When the anchor is lowered to the floor of the sea, ocean, or lake, the flukes embed themselves in the mud to hold the vessel in place.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fluke
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Educe22

[hiromichi]

educe22:
Thank you very much for your reply stimulating to my imagination.
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Hiromichi