FLUTE, n. L. flo, flatus, to blow, or L. fluta, a lamprey, with the same number of holes.
1. A small wind instrument a pipe with lateral holes or stops, played by blowing with the mouth, and by stopping and opening the holes with the fingers.
2. A channel in a column or pillar a perpendicular furrow or cavity, cut along the shaft of a column or pilaster so called from its resemblance to a flute. It is used chiefly in the Ionic order sometimes in the Composite and Corinthian rarely in the Doric and Tuscan. It is called also a reed.
3. A long vessel or boat, with flat ribs or floor timbers, round behind, and swelled in the middle a different orthography of float, flota.
Armed in flute. An armed ship, with her guns of the lower tier and part of those of the upper tier removed, used as a transport, is said to be armed in flute.
FLUTE, To play on a flute.
FLUTE, To form flutes or channels in a column.