Flask (?), 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. ?,
?, ?. Cf. Flagon, Flasket.] 1.
A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a
flask of oil or wine.
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.
3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.]
Bailey.
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.
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.