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flak (n.)

1938, "anti-aircraft gun," from German Flak, condensed from Fliegerabwehrkanone, literally "pilot warding-off cannon." Sense of "anti-aircraft fire" is from 1940; metaphoric sense of "criticism" is c. 1963 in American English. Flak jacket is by 1956.

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Definitions of flak from WordNet

flak (n.)
a slick spokesperson who can turn any criticism to the advantage of their employer;
Synonyms: flak catcher / flack catcher / flack
flak (n.)
intense adverse criticism;
don't give me any flak
Synonyms: fire / attack / flack / blast
flak (n.)
artillery designed to shoot upward at airplanes;
Synonyms: antiaircraft / antiaircraft gun / flack / pom-pom / ack-ack / ack-ack gun
From wordnet.princeton.edu