noun

flak

FLAK/flæk/

Hostile gunfire aimed at aircraft.

The aircraft flies through bursts of flak.

An anti-aircraft gun aims upward toward a small military aircraft, with dark shell bursts surrounding the plane along the gun's firing direction; no casualties.

Etymology

flGermanpilot

+aGermanwarding off; defense

+kGermancannon

The compound literally names a cannon for warding off pilots. Its meaning shifted from an anti-aircraft gun to anti-aircraft fire, then metaphorically to criticism as incoming fire.

In context

BODS Mayhem Hour6:36

the last remake of the Evil Dead caught a lot of flak, but I really enjoyed it.

Skinny Drummer and Jmann vocalist of Mushroomhead 8-1-18

More examples

Flak bursts around the bombers as they approach the coast.
The plane returns with holes in its wings from flak.
Enemy ships send up flak to drive off the attacking aircraft.

Similar words

antiaircraft fire: Names the same gunfire explicitly rather than using the shortened term.
gunfire: Includes shots at any target, not just aircraft.