The only time I have heard this term used is in building wings out of coroplast for SPADs. The coroplast has flutes in it, like cardboard. If the flutes run front to back on the wing, they are chordwise flutes. If the flutes run from the fuselage to the wingtip, they run spanwise. It just has to do with which way you fold the material.

The usage of the word in your question doesn't make any sense to me.

Good luck