▪ I. flange, n.
(flændʒ)
[See flanch n.2]
1. A widening or branching out; the part that widens out: † a. in a pan; b. in a metallic vein.
| 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. vii. 320/2 The top that goes out wider than the bottom, is called the Flang of the Pan. 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict. I j b, Flange [is] a Place where a Vein takes a run out of Course into one, and sometimes both Sides, insomuch that the Ore lies more scattered. 1881 Raymond Mining Gloss., Flange, applied to a vein widening. |
2. A projecting flat rim, collar, or rib, used to strengthen an object, to guide it, to keep it in place, to facilitate its attachment to another object, or for other purposes.
| 1735 Dyche & Pardon Dict., Flange, those Side Pieces that are cast on to Iron Pipes or Barrels to screw 'em fast, or to hang 'em by. 1833 J. Holland Manuf. Metal. II. 247 At each end of this cylinder there is a deep flange or margin. 1838 Simms Public Wks. Gt. Brit. 70 The flange or rib on the tire shall not project more than one inch. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 207/1 The whole are firmly secured by two metal flanges..which are tightly screwed up. |
3. Hence
a. Any rim or projecting surface.
b. A flattened-out disc. Also,
blank-flange.
| 1876 Voyle Milit. Dict. (ed. 3) s.v., The rim of metal round the mouth of gun caps used with percussion muskets is called a flange. 1877 Holderness Gloss., Flange, the brim of a hat. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. IV, Flange, a plate for covering..the end of a pipe or cylinder. |
c. transf. Of natural objects: a rim or fan which stands out from the main part of the object. Also
fig.| 1880 ‘Mark Twain’ Tramp Abroad 393 Stepping on an outlying flange of her foot. 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 607 The brown water..striking a ridge of higher rock..flew up in a lovely flange some twelve feet or so high. 1930 Auden Poems 25 Nowise withdrawn by doubting flinch Nor joined to any by belief's firm flange. |
4. attrib. and
Comb., as
flange-coupling,
flange-joint;
flange-maker;
flange-hilted adj.;
flange-bushing (see
quot.);
flange-pipe (
U.S.), pipe in sections with flanges for fixing together;
flange-pulley, a flanged pulley;
flange-rail, (
a) a rail with a flanged base; (
b)
U.S. (see
quot. 1864);
flange-wheel, a flanged wheel.
| 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. IV, *Flange Bushing, a flange carrying a shell which acts as a bushing to a hole. |
| Ibid., *Flange Coupling, a device for connecting pipes at any angle from 0° to 90°. |
| 1930 V. G. Childe Bronze Age iii. 86 Early versions of the *flange-hilted leaf-shaped sword..are very common in Northern and Central Europe. |
| 1864 Webster, *Flange-joint, a joint in pipes etc. made by two flanges bolted together. |
| 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. IV, *Flange Pipe, *Flange Pulley. |
| 1864 Webster, *Flange-rail, a rail having on one side a flange to keep wheels, etc., from running off. 1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin., Flange Rail, a flat-bottomed or flat rail, as distinguished from a double-headed rail. |
▪ II. flange, v. (
flændʒ)
[See flanch v.; in senses 2 and 3 f. prec. n.] 1. intr. To widen out. Also, with
out.
| 1820 Wilbraham Chesh. Gloss., Flange, or flange out, to spread, diverge, to increase in width or breadth. 1878 Stevenson Inland Voy. 167 The east-end of a church..as it flanges out in three wide terraces. |
2. To take the form of a flange. (In recent Dicts.)
3. trans. To supply with a flange, attach a flange to, form a flange upon.
| 1873 R. Wilson Steam Boilers 92 By flanging either the barrel or end plate. |