Flawe

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for a crack, blemish, or fault that spoils something otherwise sound ; a brief, violent burst of wind or a sudden squall at sea
2. A fault, crack, or imperfection in an object or character ; an old word for a sudden gust of wind or a short, sharp storm
3. A blemish or weakness that mars something's perfection ; a sudden blast of wind that arrives unexpectedly, especially on the water

Etymology: A flaw was once a crack or a splinter, not a blemish. The Middle English "flawe" described a break or chip in a solid object, and it probably came into English from a Scandinavian source where a related word meant a flake or slab. The sense of imperfection grew naturally from that picture: a fault in a gemstone or a piece of metal is a line where the material has split. The modern figurative use, a fault in a plan or a character, extends the same idea. Something with a flaw is no longer whole, and the damage may be hidden until it is tested.