Etymology From dialectal English flange (“to project”), flanch (“a projection”), from Middle French flanche, from Old French flanche (“flank, side”), from Frankish *hlanku (“bend, curve; side, flank”). See flank. As a term for a group of baboons, it was popularized in the comedy TV series Not the Nine O'Clock News.
1
An external or internal rib or rim, used either to add strength or to hold something in place.
2
The projecting edge of a rigid or semi-rigid component.
3
An ability in a role-playing game which is not commonly available, overpowered or arbitrarily imposed by the referees.
Roleplaying games
[The] enduring problem with the Gathering is that [players] can't affect anything that happens ... whatever they do, the LT just flange it back to the original plot line.1998, Mr MI Pennington, “Can the Players be Trusted?”, in rec.games.frp.live-action (Usenet):
2007, "balor", Changing the metaphysics on Rule 7 https://web.archive.org/web/20071014193135/http://forums.rule7.co.uk/Topic28357-44-2.aspx 'Oh look, the amulet of flange has been activated, this means all Paladins now only have one heal per day instead of two.'
I was in bed the other day with the missus and I asked to see her flange. Imagine my surprise when she got up went downstairs to my toolbox and brought me up a metal looking object called a flange!!!!! Needless to say when she asked to see my nuts the next time I obliged by doing exactly the same as her.2001, tedfat, “Flange!!!!”, in alt.society.nottingham (Usenet):
'God, she's got a tight flange!' the plumber gasped, splaying the girl's buttocks and focusing on her O-ring.2003, Ray Gordon, Hot Sheets:
Etymology From dialectal English flange (“to project”), flanch (“a projection”), from Middle French flanche, from Old French flanche (“flank, side”), from Frankish *hlanku (“bend, curve; side, flank”). See flank. As a term for a group of baboons, it was popularized in the comedy TV series Not the Nine O'Clock News.
1
To be bent into a flange.
2
Engineering, Mechanical engineering, Mechanics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange; to bend (esp. sheet metal) in the form of a flange.
3
To mix two copies of together, one delayed by a very short, slowly varying time.