FLAW, noun [Gr. seems to be contracted .

1. A breach; a crack; a defect made by breaking or splitting; a gap or fissure; as a flaw in a scythe, knife or razor; a flaw in a china dish, or in a glass; a flaw in a wall.

2. A defect; a fault; any defect made by violence, or occasioned by neglect; as a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a will, or in a deed, or in a statute.

3. A sudden burst of wind; a sudden gust or blast of short duration; a word of common use among seamen. [This proves the primary sense to be, to burst or rush.]

4. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar.

And deluges of armies from the town

Came pouring in; I heard the mighty flaw

[In this sense, the word is not used in the United States.]

5. A sudden commotion of mind. [Not used.]

FLAW, verb transitive

1. To break; to crack.

The brazen cauldrons with the frosts are flawed.

2. To break; to violate; as, to flaw a league. [Little used.]