\Flask\, n. [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG.
flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF.
flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L.
vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr. ?, ?, ?. Cf. {Flagon},
{Flasket}.]
1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a
   flask of oil or wine.
2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various
   purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of
   wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat
   water in, etc.
3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] --Bailey.
4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand,
   etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of
   two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the
   cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When
   there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three
   part flask, four part flask, etc.
{Erlenmeyer flask}, a thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and
   cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents
   laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from
   Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it.
{Florence flask}. [From Florence in Italy.]
   (a) Same as {Betty}, n., 3.
   (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or
       flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating
       solutions.
{Pocket flask}, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered
   with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.