Word of the Week: April 2, 2001
A Barrage of Flak

When you say "Don't give me any flak!" you are telling someone not to argue with you, verbally abuse you, or nag at you in any way. You might be surprised to learn that flak is from the German word fliegerabwehrkanone, which means "anti-aircraft gun."

The German language often makes compound words where English might hesitate. Flieger means "aircraft" or "flyer," abwehr means "defense," and kanone means "gun." German just puts them all together to make fliegerabwehrkanone. So next time you tell someone not to give you any flak, think of strafing runs, artillery barrages, and flying aces!

Words of the Week are written by Dr. Jacques A. Bailly.