What Is the Origin of the Phrase “Flake Out”? Does “flake” Derive From the Word “flaky”?

Question by Dude: What is the origin of the phrase “flake out”? Does “flake” derive from the word “flaky”?
I know flake out means to cancel at the last minute, but where does the verb flake come from? Does it have any relation to the adjective flaky, or is that just a coincidence?

Best answer:

Answer by holly
Word Origin & History

flaky

1570s, from flake + -y (2). Meaning “eccentric, crazy” first recorded 1959, said to be Amer.Eng. baseball slang, but probably from earlier druggie slang flake “cocaine” (1920s). Flake “eccentric person” is a 1968 back-formation from it.

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