flettes

Flettes is a term that does not have a single, widely recognized definition in major reference works. In English-language use, it most often appears as a surname, and there is little evidence of a stable non-name meaning in common dictionaries or encyclopedias.

Etymology and variants: If used as a French-derived form, flettes would be related to the word flèche (arrow); however, the standard French plural is flèches, and flettes is not a standard form in French. In English, the closest established term is flechette, the name for a small dart used in certain weapons and dart systems; its plural flechettes is common. The spelling flettes without the “chette” portion is typically seen as a misspelling or a variant spelling rather than a distinct, recognized term.

Uses and contexts: Flettes can appear as a family name in genealogical records or as the name of a place in some contexts, but such uses are minor and not widely documented in reputable sources. Because of the lack of a clear, canonical definition, the meaning of flettes is highly context-dependent and often hinges on whether the writer intends a surname, a misspelling, or a reference to a related but distinct term such as flechette or flèche.

See also: flechette, flèche, arrow, list of surnames.