From: Steve Grammont (islander@midmaine.com)
Date: Tue Dec 14 2004 - 19:17:48 PST
Hi Bruce,
Hmmm... I don't know what source you used, but that's not what I'm
familiar with. So I just checked some sources including a 1944 German/
English Military Dictionary (US War Department) along with a couple of
other sources including Hogg's book on German artillery. Even checked an
online translator. All state Flak = "Flugabwehrkanone" and not
"Fliegerabwehrkanone".
The confusion is understandable as the Germans do use "Flieger" for other
air defense related terms, including the generic "Anti-Aircraft Defense"
("Fliegerabwehr"). Just to confuse things, they also call Anti-Aircraft
Defense "Flugabwehr" :-) But for the weapons themselves, there is
consistent use of "Flug" as the prefix. Others in the dictionary are
Flugabwehrgerät, Flugabwehrmaschinengewehr, Flugabwehrmaschinenwaffen,
Flugabwehrmaschinegewehr, and Flugabwehrmaschinenkanone.
Steve
>Main Entry: flak Pronunciation Guide
>Variant(s): also flack \flak\
>Function: noun
>Inflected Form(s): plural flak
>Etymology: German flak, from fliegerabwehrkanone antiaircraft gun, from
>fliegerabwehr defense against air attack (from flieger aviator -- from
>fliegen to fly, from Old High German fliogan -- + abwehr defense, from
>abwehren to ward off, from ab off, away -- from Old High German aba -- +
>wehren to restrain, forbid, from Old High German werren to defend) +
>kanone cannon, from Italian cannone -- more at FLY, OF, WEIR, CANNON
>1 : antiaircraft guns <flak battery> <flak ship>
>2 : the bursting shells fired from flak <despite heavy flak damage made
>a safe landing>
>
>
>
>
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