VHE Gamma-Ray Spectrum of 1ES 2344+514

We present the first measurement of the very high energy (VHE, E>300 GeV) gamma-ray spectrum of the BL Lacertae object 1ES 2344+514. At a redshift of 0.044, it is one of five active galactic nuclei (AGN) detected by the Whipple collaboration. As is typical for these high frequency peaked blazars, the VHE gamma-ray emission is highly variable. On the night of 20 Dec. 1995, a gamma-ray flare of 5.3-sigma significance was detected (Catanese et al., ApJ, 1998, 501, p616). 1ES2344+514 then remained below detection threshold for over a year, but was detected again by Whipple in the 1999-2001 observing seasons (Badran et al., Proc. Gamma 2001, AIP, 587, p281). Recently, the HEGRA collaboration reported an independent confirmation of this source (Tluczykont et al., ICRC 2003, 5, p2547). The implication of this measurement on the extragalactic infrared background will be discussed.