different between scaly vs flaky

English

Etymology

From Middle English scali, skaly, equivalent to scale +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ske?li/
• Rhymes: -e?li

Adjective

scaly (comparative scalier, superlative scaliest)

1. Covered or abounding with scales.

   Synonyms: squamulose; see also Thesaurus:scaly

   Antonyms: scaleless, esquamulose

2. Composed of scales lying over each other.

3. Resembling scales, laminae, or layers.
4. (dated, vulgar or South Africa) low, mean.

Translations

Noun

scaly (plural scalies)

1. (South Africa) The scaly yellowfish, Labeobarbus natalensis.

Anagrams

• Clays, acyls, clays

English

Alternative forms

• flakey

Etymology

flake +? -y (“having the quality of”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fle?ki?/
• Rhymes: -e?ki

Adjective

flaky (comparative flakier, superlative flakiest)

1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.
2. (informal, of a person) Unreliable; likely to make plans with others but then abandon those plans.
   • 2014, Joseph Itiel, A Consumer's Guide to Male Hustlers

     I have noticed that when hustlers upgrade themselves to models (as distinguished from models who have never hustled) they tend to continue being flaky about appointments. On my last trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, I was stood up twice.

3. (informal, of a thing) Unreliable; working only on an intermittent basis; likely to malfunction.

   I cannot enjoy the online game because of my flaky Internet connection.

Derived terms

• flakily

Translations