noun

1. a dark-colored variety of chert that produces sparks when struck with steel and that breaks into pieces with sharp cutting edges
2. a piece of this stone, used to start a fire, for primitive tools, etc.
3. a small piece of metal consisting of iron and misch metal, used to strike the spark in a cigarette lighter
4. anything extremely hard or firm like flint

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Norw, stone splinter: see flinders

Etymology: after the nearby Flint River, so called from the flint stones in it