Also flook. [f. FLUKE sb.3]
1. trans. Billiard-playing: To hit or pocket (a ball) by a fluke; to make (a stroke) by a fluke.
1881. Times, 14 Jan., 8/2. Bennett … tried for a cannon, but fluked the white, and … ran out the winner by 90 points.
1888. Sportsm., 20 Dec., 4/4. Fortune once more assisted Mitchell, who, in trying to make a red loser, fluked a cannon.
2. transf. To get (in) or obtain by a fluke.
1885. Pall Mall. G., 18 June, 2. On the chance of crowding or fluking in one [picture] he will send the whole eight. Ibid. (1889), 2 May, 7/3. It is very questionable whether the artist is really any better off for fluking £500 or £1000 now and again for a picture which is worth £50. Ibid. (1892), 25 Aug., 1/3. He wanted to fluke a last success.
Hence Fluking vbl. sb., Fluking, ppl. a., characterized by a fluke or flukes. Flukist, one who succeeds rather by chance than by skill.
1865. Daily Tel., 21 Aug., 4. The sensation which was created last year by the Miner’s fluking victory over Blair Athol.
1881. Society, 23 July, 24/1. Time … will show whether Mr. Beck is a lucky flukist or a really good shot.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, III. viii. 155. She would play that fluking game which she most affected at billiards—sending her ball spinning all over the table with the hope that some successful result must come of a vigorous stroke.
1893. G. D. Leslie, Lett. to Marco, xxi. 142. There is a lot of fluking in the art, and I am quite sure when we once begin to try and make a good picture it is all up with it.
