flak

Flak is an English abbreviation of the German Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning anti-aircraft cannon. It denotes anti-aircraft artillery and the bursts of shellfire used to defend against enemy aircraft. The term also refers to the shells and fragments produced by such batteries. In modern discourse, flak can describe heavy air-defense fire in general, and it can be used metaphorically to indicate criticism.

Etymology and usage: The word originates from German military terminology and entered English during World War II. It is often written as FLAK and can refer to the guns themselves, the projectiles, or the defensive barrages they create. In English, “taking flak” has come to mean receiving strong criticism or hostile reaction.

Historical context: Flak played a central role in air defense and air campaign strategies in the 1930s and 1940s. Notable systems included the 8.8 cm Flak gun and other calibers such as 20 mm, 37 mm, 10.5 cm, and 12.8 cm. Flak batteries were deployed around cities, industrial areas, and military positions, often organized into large networks defended by searchlights, radar-directed fire, and, in some cases, barrage balloons. In some cities, dedicated Flaktürme towers housed multiple flak batteries to increase protective coverage.

Modern usage: After World War II, flak remained a general term for heavy air-defense artillery, though most contemporary forces rely on surface-to-air missiles and modern CIWS for protection. The idiomatic use persists in English to describe criticism or blowback from the media or public, as in a person or action “taking flak” from critics.

See also: Flakturm; Anti-aircraft artillery; Surface-to-air missile systems.