\Flaw\, n. [OE. flai, flaw flake; cf. Sw. flaga flaw,
crack, breach, flake, D. vlaag gust of wind, Norw. flage,
flaag, and E. flag a flat stone.]
1. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of
   continuity or cohesion; as, a flaw in a knife or a vase.
         This heart Shall break into a hundered thousand
         flaws.                                --Shak.
2. A defect; a fault; as, a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a
   will, in a deed, or in a statute.
         Has not this also its flaws and its dark side?
                                               --South.
3. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a
   quarrel. [Obs.]
         And deluges of armies from the town Came pouring in;
         I heard the mighty flaw.              --Dryden.
4. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
         Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw. --Milton.
         Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn. --Tennyson.
Syn: Blemish; fault; imperfection; spot; speck.

\Flaw\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flawed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Flawing}.]
1. To crack; to make flaws in.
         The brazen caldrons with the frosts are flawed.
                                               --Dryden.
2. To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.]
         France hath flawed the league.        --Shak.