flake
n.— «The term “flood” insurance parlance refers to damages caused by the “rising of navigable waters.” In the New York area, he says, most carriers issue a limit of $1 or $2 million, with more coverage being prohibitively expensive. That being said, “I recommend the purchase of whatever flood coverage the carrier offers,” he says. Often, flood coverage is bundled with earthquake coverage in what the industry calls “flake” (flood and quake).» —“Covering the Gaps” by Raanan Geberer The Cooperator Aug., 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Brian from Lafayette, Indiana, wonders why chicken is abbreviated CHX in the restaurant industry. Using X as a substitute or shortener has a long history. Medieval scribes sometimes drew a line through the final stroke of an abbreviated word. This...
Nancy Gabriel from Ithaca, New York, recalls her father’s no-nonsense responses to minor injuries when she was a child: After making sure she was really all right, he’d say, It’s far enough from your heart; it won’t kill you. Other times he...