Chapter CLXXIV: Epilogue: Ep"i*logue, n. Etym: F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. Legend (21)

7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright. Flat burglary as ever was committed. Shak. A great tobacco taker too, -- that's flat. Marston.

8. (Mus.) (a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat. (b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.

9. (Phonetics)

Defn: Sonant; vocal; -- applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant. Flat arch. (Arch.) See under Arch, n., 2. (b). -- Flat cap, cap paper, not folded. See under Paper. -- Flat chasing, in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a punching tool. Knight. -- Flat chisel, a sculptor's chisel for smoothing. -- Flat file, a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular section. See File. -- Flat nail, a small, sharp-pointed, wrought nail, with a flat, thin head, larger than a tack. Knight. -- Flat paper, paper which has not been folded. -- Flat rail, a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked to a longitudinal sleeper. -- Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond. -- Flat rope, a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket; sennit.

Note: Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made by sewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight. -- Flat space. (Geom.) See Euclidian space. -- Flat stitch, the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] -- Flat tint (Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade. -- To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in the intended effect; as, his speech fell flat. Of all who fell by saber or by shot, Not one fell half so flat as Walter Scott. Lord Erskine.

FLAT Flat, adv.

1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly. Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty. Herbert.

2. (Stock Exchange)

Defn: Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]

FLAT Flat, n.

1. A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats. Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat. Bacon.

2. A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand. Half my power, this night Passing these flats, are taken by the tide. Shak.

3. Something broad and flat in form; as: (a) A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught. (b) A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned. (c) (Railroad Mach.) A car without a roof, the body of which is a platform without sides; a platform car. (d) A platform on wheel, upon which emblematic designs, etc., are carried in processions.

4. The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.

5. (Arch.)

Defn: A floor, loft, or story in a building; especially, a floor of a house, which forms a complete residence in itself.

6. (Mining)

Defn: A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal. Raymond.

7. A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. [Colloq.] Or if you can not make a speech, Because you are a flat. Holmes.

8. (Mus.)

Defn: A character [] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.

9. (Geom.)

Defn: A homaloid space or extension.

FLAT Flat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flatting.]

1. To make flat; to flatten; to level.

2. To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress. Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted. Barrow.

3. To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

FLAT Flat, v. i.

1. To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fal to an even surface. Sir W. Temple.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: To fall form the pitch. To flat out, to fail from a promising beginning; to make a bad ending; to disappoint expectations. [Colloq.]

FLATBILL Flat"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bird of the genus Flatyrynchus. They belong to the family of flycatchers.

FLATBOAT Flat"boat`, n.

Defn: A boat with a flat bottom and square ends; -- used for the transportation of bulky freight, especially in shallow waters.

FLAT-BOTTOMED Flat"-bot`tomed, a.

Defn: Having an even lower surface or bottom; as, a flat-bottomed boat.

FLAT-CAP Flat"-cap`, n.

Defn: A kind of low-crowned cap formerly worn by all classes in England, and continued in London after disuse elsewhere; -- hence, a citizen of London. Marston.

FLATFISH Flat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any fish of the family Pleuronectidæ; esp., the winter flounder (Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened, swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot, and halibut. See Flounder.

FLAT FOOT Flat" foot`. (Med.)

Defn: A foot in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole of the foot rests upon the ground; also, the deformity, usually congential, exhibited by such a foot; splayfoot.

FLAT-FOOTED Flat"-foot`ed, a.

1. Having a flat foot, with little or no arch of the instep.

2. Firm-footed; determined. [Slang, U.S.]

FLATHEAD Flat"head`, a.

Defn: Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians.

FLATHEAD Flat"head`, n. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.

FLAT-HEADED Flat"-head`ed, a.

Defn: Having a head with a flattened top; as, a flat-headed nail.

FLATIRON Flat"i`ron, n.

Defn: An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.

FLATIVE Fla"tive, a. Etym: [L. flare, flatum to blow.]

Defn: Producing wind; flatulent. [Obs.] A. Brewer.

FLATLING Flat"ling, adv. Etym: [Flat, a. + adverbial suff. -ing.]

Defn: With the flat side, as of a sword; flatlong; in a prostrate position. [Obs.] Spenser.

FLATLONG Flat"long

Defn: ; 115), adv. With the flat side downward; not edgewise. Shak.

FLATLY Flat"ly, adv.

Defn: In a flat manner; evenly; horizontally; without spirit; dully; frigidly; peremptori;y; positively, plainly. "He flatly refused his aid." Sir P. Sidney. He that does the works of religion slowly, flatly, and without appetite. Jer. Taylor.

FLATNESS Flat"ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being flat.

2. Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of being plane or level.

3. Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression.

4. Want of variety or flavor; dullness; inspidity.

5. Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; -- opposed to sharpness or acuteness.

FLATOUR Fla*tour", n. Etym: [OF.]

Defn: A flatterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FLATTEN Flat"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattened; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattening.] Etym: [From Flat, a.]

1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make flat; to level; to make plane.

2. To throw down; to bring to the ground; to prostrate; hence, to depress; to deject; to dispirit.

3. To make vapid or insipid; to render stale.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: To lower the pitch of; to cause to sound less sharp; to let fall from the pitch. To flatten a sail (Naut.), to set it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. -- Flattening oven, in glass making, a heated chamber in which split glass cylinders are flattened for window glass.

FLATTEN Flat"ten, v. i.

Defn: To become or grow flat, even, depressed dull, vapid, spiritless, or depressed below pitch.

FLATTER Flat"ter, n.

1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.

2. (Metal Working) (a) A flat-faced fulling hammer. (b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips, as watch springs, etc.

FLATTER Flat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattering.] Etym: [OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern to flutter, Icel. fla to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter, Flutter, Flattery.]

1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle. When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered. Shak. A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. xxix. 5. Others he flattered by asking their advice. Prescott.

2. To raise hopes in; to encourage or favorable, but sometimes unfounded or deceitful, representations.

3. To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable idea of; as, his portrait flatters him.

FLATTER Flat"ter, v. i.

Defn: To use flattery or insincere praise. If it may stand him more in stead to lie, Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or adjure. Milton.

FLATTERER Flat"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who flatters. The most abject flaterers degenerate into the greatest tyrants. Addison.

FLATTERING Flat"ter*ing, a.

Defn: That flatters (in the various senses of the verb); as, a flattering speech. Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. Shak. A flattering painter, who made it his care, To draw men as they ought be, not as they are. Goldsmith.

FLATTERINGLY Flat"ter*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With flattery.

FLATTERY Flat"ter*y, n.; pl. Flatteries. Etym: [OE. flaterie, OF. flaterie, F. flaterie, fr. flater to flatter, F. flatter; of uncertain origin. See Flatter, v. t.]

Defn: The act or practice of flattering; the act of pleasing by artiful commendation or compliments; adulation; false, insincere, or excessive praise. Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present. Rambler. Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver. Burke.

Syn. -- Adulation; compliment; obsequiousness. See Adulation.

FLATTING Flat"ting, n.

1. The process or operation of making flat, as a cylinder of glass by opening it out.

2. A mode of painting,in which the paint, being mixed with turpentine, leaves the work without gloss. Gwilt.

3. A method of preserving gilding unburnished, by touching with size. Knolles.

4. The process of forming metal into sheets by passing it between rolls. Flatting coat, a coat of paint so put on as to have no gloss. -- Flatting furnace. Same as Flattening oven, under Flatten. -- Flatting mill. (a) A rolling mill producing sheet metal; esp., in mints, the ribbon from which the planchets are punched. (b) A mill in which grains of metal are flatted by steel rolls, and reduced to metallic dust, used for purposes of ornamentation.

FLATTISH Flat"tish, a.

Defn: Somewhat flat. Woodward.

FLATULENCE; FLATULENCY Flat"u*lence, Flat"u*len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flatulence.]

Defn: The state or quality of being flatulent.

FLATULENT Flat"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. flatus a blowing, flatus ventris windiness, flatulence, fr. flare to blow: cf. F. flatulent. See Blow.]

1. Affected with flatus or gases generated in the alimentary canal; windy.

2. Generating, or tending to generate, wind in the stomach. Vegetables abound more with aërial particles than animal substances, and therefore are more flatulent. Arbuthnot.

3. Turgid with flatus; as, a flatulent tumor. Quincy.

4. Pretentious without substance or reality; puffy; empty; vain; as, a flatulent vanity. He is too flatulent sometimes, and sometimes too dry. Dryden.

FLATULENTLY Flat"u*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flatulent manner; with flatulence.

FLATUOSITY Flat`u*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flatuosité.]

Defn: Flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.

FLATUOUS Flat"u*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. flatueux.]

Defn: Windy; generating wind. [Obs.] Bacon.

FLATUS Fla"tus, n.; pl. E. Flatuses, L. Flatus. Etym: [L., fr. flare to blow.]

1. A breath; a puff of wind. Clarke.

2. Wind or gas generated in the stomach or other cavities of the body. Quincy.

FLATWARE Flat"ware`, n.

Defn: Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware.

FLATWARE Flat"ware`, n.

Defn: Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

FLATWISE Flat"wise`, a. or adv.

Defn: With the flat side downward, or next to another object; not edgewise.

FLATWORM Flat"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any worm belonging to the Plathelminthes; also, sometimes applied to the planarians.

FLAUNDRISH Flaun"drish ( or ), a.

Defn: Flemish. [Obs.]

FLAUNT Flaunt ( or ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flaunted; p. pr. & vb. n.. Flaunting.] Etym: [Cf. dial. G. flandern to flutter, wave; perh. akin to E. flatter, flutter.]

Defn: To throw or spread out; to flutter; to move ostentatiously; as, a flaunting show. You flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot. Arbuthnot. One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade. Pope.

FLAUNT Flaunt, v. t.

Defn: To display ostentatiously; to make an impudent show of.

FLAUNT Flaunt, n.

Defn: Anything displayed for show. [Obs.] In these my borrowed flaunts. Shak.

FLAUNTINGLY Flaunt"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flaunting way.

FLAUTIST Flau"tist, n. Etym: [It. flauto a flute See Flute.]

Defn: A player on the flute; a flutist.

FLAUTO Flau"to, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: A flute. Flaute piccolo ( Etym: [It., little flute], an octave flute. -- Flauto traverso ( Etym: [It., transverse flute], the German flute, held laterally, instead of being played, like the old flûte a bec, with a mouth piece at the end.

FLAVANILINE Fla*van"i*line ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow + E. aniline.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow, crystalline, organic dyestuff, C16H14N2, of artifical production. It is a strong base, and is a complex derivative of aniline and quinoline.

FLAVESCENT Fla*ves"cent, a. Etym: [L. flavescens, p.pr. of flavescere to turn yellow.]

Defn: Turning yellow; yellowish.

FLAVICOMOUS Fla*vic"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. flavicomus; flavus yellow + coma hair.]

Defn: Having yellow hair. [R.]

FLAVIN Fla"vin, n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow, vegetable dyestuff, resembling quercitron.

FLAVINE Fla"vine (; 104), n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow, crystalline, organic base, C13H12N2O, obtained artificially.

FLAVOL Fla"vol, n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow + -oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow, crystalline substance, obtained from anthraquinone, and regarded as a hydroxyl derivative of it.

FLAVOR Fla"vor, n. Etym: [OF. fleur, flaur (two syllables), odor, cf. F. fleurer to emit an odor, It. flatore a bad odor, prob. fr. L. flare to bow, whence the sense of exhalation. Cf. Blow.] [Written also flavour.]

1. That quality of anything which affects the smell; odor; fragrances; as, the flavor of a rose.

2. That quality of anything which affects the taste; that quality which gratifies the palate; relish; zest; savor; as, the flavor of food or drink.

3. That which imparts to anything a peculiar odor or taste, gratifying to the sense of smell, or the nicer perceptions of the palate; a substance which flavors.

4. That quality which gives character to any of the productions of literature or the fine arts.

FLAVOR Fla"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flavored; p. pr. & vb. n. Flavoring.]

Defn: To give flavor to; to add something (as salt or a spice) to, to give character or zest.

FLAVORED Fla"vored, a.

Defn: Having a distinct flavor; as, high-flavored wine.

FLAVORLESS Fla"vor*less, a.

Defn: Without flavor; tasteless.

FLAVOROUS Fla"vor*ous, a.

Defn: Imparting flavor; pleasant to the taste or smell; sapid. Dryden.

FLAVOUS Fla"vous, a. Etym: [L. flavus.]

Defn: Yellow. [Obs.]

FLAW Flaw, n. Etym: [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; imoerfection; spot; speck.

FLAW 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.

FLAWLESS Flaw"less, a.

Defn: Free from flaws. Boyle.

FLAWN Flawn, n. Etym: [OF. flaon, F. flan, LL. flado, fr. OHG. flado, G. fladen, a sort of pancake; cf. Gr. Place.]

Defn: A sort of flat custard or pie. [Obs.] Tusser.

FLAWTER Flaw"ter, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Flay.]

Defn: To scrape o [Obs.] Johnson.

FLAWY Flaw"y, a.

1. Full of flaws or cracks; broken; defective; faulty. Johnson.

2. Subject to sudden flaws or gusts of wind.

FLAX Flax, n. Etym: [AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L. plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. Ply.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.

2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing. Earth flax (Min.), amianthus. -- Flax brake, a machine for removing the woody portion of flax from the fibrous. -- Flax comb, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle. -- Flax cotton, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in bicarbinate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared for bleaching and spinning like cotton. Knight. -- Flax dresser, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it for the spinner. -- Flax mill, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen manufactured. -- Flax puller, a machine for pulling flax plants in the field. -- Flax wench. (a) A woman who spins flax. [Obs.] (b) A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak. -- Mountain flax (Min.), amianthus. -- New Zealand flax (Bot.) See Flax-plant.

FLAXEN Flax"en, a.

Defn: Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the color of flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax or tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair.

FLAX-PLANT Flax"-plant`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant in new Zealand (Phormium tenax), allied to the lilies and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and several feet long, and furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse cloth.

FLAXSEED Flax"seed`, n.

Defn: The seed of the flax; linseed.

FLAXWEED Flax"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Toadflax.

FLAXY Flax"y, a.

Defn: Like flax; flaxen. Sir M. Sandys.

FLAY Flay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaying.] Etym: [OE. flean, flan, AS. fleán; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fla, Sw. flå, Dan. flaae, cf. Lith. ples to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst tear; perh. akin to E. flag to flat stone, flaw.]

Defn: To skin; to strip off the skin or surface of; as, to flay an ox; to flay the green earth. With her nails She 'll flay thy wolfish visage. Shak.

FLAYER Flay"er, n.

Defn: One who strips off the skin.

FLEA Flea, v. t. Etym: [See Flay.]

Defn: To flay. [Obs.] He will be fleaced first And horse collars made of's skin. J. Fletcher.

FLEA Flea, n. Etym: [OE. fle, flee, AS. fleá, fleáh; akin to D. fl, G. floh, Icel. fl, Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. Flee.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An insect belonging to the genus Pulex, of the order Aphaniptera. Fleas are destitute of wings, but have the power of leaping energetically. The bite is poisonous to most persons. The human flea (Pulex irritans), abundant in Europe, is rare in America, where the dog flea (P. canis) takes its place. See Aphaniptera, and Dog flea. See Illustration in Appendix. A flea in the ear, an unwelcome hint or unexpected reply, annoying like a flea; an irritating repulse; as, to put a flea in one's ear; to go away with a flea in one's ear. -- Beach flea, Black flea, etc. See under Beach, etc.

FLEABANE Flea"bane`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving away fleas. They belong, for the most part, to the genera Conyza, Erigeron, and Pulicaria.

FLEA-BEETLE Flea"-bee`tle, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small beetle of the family Halticidæ, of many species. They have strong posterior legs and leap like fleas. The turnip flea- beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) and that of the grapevine (Graptodera chalybea) are common injurious species.

FLEA-BITE Flea"-bite`, n.

1. The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite.

2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea. Harvey.

FLEA-BITTEN Flea"-bit`ten, a.

1. Bitten by a flea; as, a flea-bitten face.

2. White, flecked with minute dots of bay or sorrel; -- said of the color of a horse.

FLEAGH Fleagh, obs.

Defn: imp. of Fly.

FLEAK Fleak, n.

Defn: A flake; a thread or twist. [Obs.] Little long fleaks or threads of hemp. Dr. H. More.

FLEAKING Fleak"ing, n.

Defn: A light covering of reeds, over which the main covering is laid, in thatching houses. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

FLEA-LOUSE Flea"-louse`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A jumping plant louse of the family Psyllidæ, of many species. That of the pear tree is Psylla pyri.

FLEAM Fleam, n. Etym: [F. flamme, OF. flieme, fr. LL. flevotomum, phlebotomum; cf. D. vlijm. See Phlebotomy.] (Surg. & Far.)

Defn: A sharp instrument used for opening veins, lancing gums, etc.; a kind of lancet. Fleam tooth, a tooth of a saw shaped like an isosceles triangle; a peg tooth. Knight.

FLEAMY Fleam"y, a.

Defn: Bloody; clotted. [Obs. or Prov.] Foamy bubbling of a fleamy brain. Marston.

FLEAR Flear, v. t. & i.

Defn: See Fleer.

FLEAWORT Flea"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An herb used in medicine (Plantago Psyllium), named from the shape of its seeds. Loudon.

FLECHE Flèche, n. Etym: [F. flèche, prop., an arrow.] (Fort.)

Defn: A simple fieldwork, consisting of two faces forming a salient angle pointing outward and open at the gorge.

FLECK Fleck, n.

Defn: A flake; also, a lock, as of wool. [Obs.] J. Martin.

FLECK Fleck, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flekkr; akin to Sw. fläck, D. vlek, G. fleck, and perh. to E. flitch.]

Defn: A spot; a streak; a speckle. "A sunny fleck." Longfellow. Life is dashed with flecks of sin. tennyson.

FLECK Fleck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flecked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flecking.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. flekka, Sw. fläcka, D. vlekken, vlakken, G. flecken. See Fleck, n.]

Defn: To spot; to streak or stripe; to variegate; to dapple. Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian strain. Dryden. A bird, a cloud, flecking the sunny air. Trench.

FLECKER Fleck"er, v. t.

Defn: To fleck. Johnson.

FLECKLESS Fleck"less, a.

Defn: Without spot or blame. [R.] My consnience will not count me fleckless. Tennyson.

FLECTION Flec"tion, n. Etym: [See Flexion.]

1. The act of bending, or state of being bent.

2. The variation of words by declension, comparison, or conjugation; inflection.

FLECTIONAL Flec"tion*al, a.

Defn: Capable of, or pertaining to, flection or inflection. A flectional word is a phrase in the bud. Earle.

FLECTOR Flec"tor, n.

Defn: A flexor.

FLED Fled,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Flee.

FLEDGE Fledge, a. Etym: [OE. flegge, flygge; akin to D. vlug, G. flügge, flücke, OHG. flucchi, Icel. fleygr, and to E. fly. Fly, v. i.]

Defn: Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly. Hfledge with wings. Milton.

FLEDGE Fledge, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Fledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Fledging.]

1. To furnish with feathers; to supply with the feathers necessary for flight. The birds were not as yet fledged enough to shift for themselves. L'Estrange.

2. To furnish or adorn with any soft covering. Your master, whose chin is not yet fledged. Shak.

FLEDGELING Fledge"ling, n.

Defn: A young bird just fledged.

FLEE Flee, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeing.] Etym: [OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleón (imperf. fleáh); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. fl (imperf. fl), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. pliuhan. (Flight.]

Defn: To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive. [He] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Shak. Flee fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18. So fled his enemies my warlike father. Shak.

Note: When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. "Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands" Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.

FLEECE Fleece, n. Etym: [OE. flees, AS. fleós; akin to D. flies, vlies .]

1. The entire coat of wood that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time. Who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece. Milton.

2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.

3. (Manuf.)

Defn: The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine. Fleece wool, wool shorn from the sheep. -- Golden fleece. See under Golden.

FLEECE Fleece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleeced; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing.]

1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.

2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or frand; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions. Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced. Fuller.

3. To spread over as with wool. [R.] Thomson.

FLEECED Fleeced, a.

1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced. Spenser.

2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed.

FLEECELESS Fleece"less, a.

Defn: Without a fleece.

FLEECER Flee"cer, n.

Defn: One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or fraund. Prynne.

FLEECY Flee"cy, a.

Defn: Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. "Fleecy flocks." Prior.

FLEEN Fleen, n. pl.

Defn: Obs. pl. of Flea. Chaucer.

FLEER Fle"er, n.

Defn: One who flees. Ld. Berners.

FLEER Fleer, [imp. & p. p. Fleered (; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering.] Etym: [OE. flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.]

1. To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout. To fleer and scorn at our solemnity. Shak.

2. To grin with an air of civility; to leer. [Obs.] Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting. Latimer.

FLEER Fleer, v. t.

Defn: To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl.

FLEER Fleer, n.

1. A word or look of derision or mockery. And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn. Shak.

2. A grin of civility; a leer. [Obs.] A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers. South.

FLEERER Fleer"er, n.

Defn: One who fleers. Beau. & Fl.

FLEERINGLY Fleer"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a fleering manner.

FLEET Fleet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeting.] Etym: [OE. fleten, fleoten, to swim, AS. fleótan to swim, float; akin to D. vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan, OHG. fliozzan, G. fliessen, Icel. fljota to float, flow, Sw. flyta, D. flyde, L. pluere to rain, Gr. plu to swim, sail. sq. root84. Cf. Fleet, n. & a., Float, Pluvial, Flow.]

1. To sail; to float. [Obs.] And in frail wood on Adrian Gulf doth fleet. Spenser.

2. To fly swiftly; to pass over quickly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance. All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, . . . Dissolved on earth, fleet hither. Milton.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; - - said of a cable or hawser.

FLEET Fleet, v. t.

1. To pass over rapidly; to skin the surface of; as, a ship that fleets the gulf. Spenser.

2. To hasten over; to cause to pass away lighty, or in mirth and joy. Many young gentlemen flock to him, and fleet the time carelessly. Shak.

3. (Naut.) (a) To draw apart the blocks of; -- said of a tackle. Totten. (b) To cause to slip down the barrel of a capstan or windlass, as a rope or chain.

FLEET Fleet, a. [Compar. Fleeter; superl. Fleetest.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. flj quick. See Fleet, v. i.]

1. Swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going from place to place; nimble. In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong. Milton.

2. Light; superficially thin; not penetring deep, as soil. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.

FLEET Fleet, n. Etym: [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleót ship, fr. fleótan to float, swim. See Fleet, v. i. and cf. Float.]

Defn: A number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also, the collective naval force of a country, etc. Fleet captain, the senior aid of the admiral of a fleet, when a captain. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

FLEET Fleet, n. Etym: [AS. fleót a place where vessels float, bay, river; akin to D. vliet rill, brook, G. fliess. See Fleet, v. i.]

1. A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; -- obsolete, except as a place name, -- as Fleet Street in London. Together wove we nets to entrap the fish In floods and sedgy fleets. Matthewes.

2. A former prison in London, which originally stood near a stream, the Fleet (now filled up). Fleet parson, a clergyman of low character, in, or in the vicinity of, the Fleet prison, who was ready to unite persons in marriage (called Fleet marriage) at any hour, without public notice, witnesses, or consent of parents.

FLEET Fleet, v. t. Etym: [AS. flet cream, fr. fleótan to float. See Fleet, v. i.]

Defn: To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

FLEETEN Fleet"en, n.

Defn: Fleeted or skimmed milk. [Obs.] Fleeten face, a face of the color of fleeten, i. e., blanched; hence, a coward. "You know where you are, you fleeten face." Beau. & Fl.

FLEET-FOOT Fleet"-foot`, a.

Defn: Swift of foot. Shak.

FLEETING Fleet"ing, a.

Defn: Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments.

Syn. -- Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient.

FLEETINGLY Fleet"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a fleeting manner; swiftly.

FLEETINGS Fleet"ings, n. pl.

Defn: A mixture of buttermilk and boiling whey; curds. [prov. Eng.] Wright.

FLEETLY Fleet"ly, adv.

Defn: In a fleet manner; rapidly.

FLEETNESS Fleet"ness, n.

Defn: Swiftness; rapidity; velocity; celerity; speed; as, the fleetness of a horse or of time.

FLEIGH Fleigh, obs.

Defn: imp. of Fly. Chaucer.

FLEME Fleme, v. t. Etym: [AS. fleman, flyman.]

Defn: To banish; to drive out; to expel. [Obs.] "Appetite flemeth discretion." Chaucer.

FLEMER Flem"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, banishes or expels. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FLEMING Flem"ing, n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Flanders.

FLEMISH Flem"ish, a.

Defn: Pertaining to Flanders, or the Flemings. -- n.

Defn: The language or dialect spoken by the Flemings; also, collectively, the people of Flanders. Flemish accounts (Naut.), short or deficient accounts. [Humorous]Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Flemish beauty (Bot.), a well known pear. It is one of few kinds which have a red color on one side. -- Flemish bond. (Arch.) See Bond, n., 8. -- Flemish brick, a hard yellow paving brick. -- Flemish coil, a flat coil of rope with the end in the center and the turns lying against, without riding over, each other. -- Flemish eye (Naut.), an eye formed at the end of a rope by dividing the strands and lying them over each other. -- Flemish horse (Naut.), an additional footrope at the end of a yard.

FLENCH Flench, v. t.

Defn: Same as Flence.

FLENSE Flense, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Dan. flense, D. vlensen, vlenzen, Scot. flinch.]

Defn: To strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal, etc. the flensed carcass of a fur seal. U. S. Census (1880).

FLESH Flesh, n. Etym: [OE. flesch, flesc, AS. fl; akin to OFries. flask, D. vleesch, OS. fl, OHG. fleisc, G. fleisch, Icel. & Dan. flesk lard, bacon, pork, Sw. fläsk.]

1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which cover the framework of bones in man and other animals; especially, the muscles.

Note: In composition it is mainly albuminous, but contains in adition a large number of crystalline bodies, such as creatin, xanthin, hypoxanthin, carnin, etc. It is also rich in phosphate of potash.

2. Animal food, in distinction from vegetable; meat; especially, the body of beasts and birds used as food, as distinguished from fish. With roasted flesh, or milk, and wastel bread. Chaucer.

3. The human body, as distinguished from the soul; the corporeal person. As if this flesh, which walls about our life, Were brass impregnable. Shak.

4. The human eace; mankind; humanity. All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Gen. vi. 12.

5. Human nature: (a) In a good sense, tenderness of feeling; gentleness. There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart. Cowper.

(b) In a bad sense, tendency to transient or physical pleasure; desire for sensual gratification; carnality. (c) (Theol.) The character under the influence of animal propensities or selfish passions; the soul unmoved by spiritual influences.

6. Kindred; stock; race. He is our brother and our flesh. Gen. xxxvii. 27.

7. The soft, pulpy substance of fruit; also, that part of a root, fruit, and the like, which is fit to be eaten.

Note: Flesh is often used adjectively or self-explaining compounds; as, flesh broth or flesh-broth; flesh brush or fleshbrush; flesh tint or flesh-tint; flesh wound. After the flesh, after the manner of man; in a gross or earthly manner. "Ye judge after the flesh." John viii. 15. -- An arm of flesh, human strength or aid. -- Flesh and blood. See under Blood. -- Flesh broth, broth made by boiling flesh in water. -- Flesh fly (Zoöl.), one of several species of flies whose larvæ or maggots feed upon flesh, as the bluebottle fly; -- called also meat fly, carrion fly, and blowfly. See Blowly. -- Flesh meat, animal food. Swift. -- Flesh side, the side of a skin or hide which was next to the flesh; -- opposed to grain side. -- Flesh tint (Painting), a color used in painting to imitate the hue of the living body. -- Flesh worm (Zoöl.), any insect larva of a flesh fly. See Flesh fly (above). -- Proud flesh. See under Proud. -- To be one flesh, to be closely united as in marriage; to become as one person. Gen. ii. 24.

FLESH Flesh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleshed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleshing.]

1. To feed with flesh, as an incitement to further exertion; to initiate; -- from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding them with the first game they take, or other flesh. Hence, to use upon flesh (as a murderous weapon) so as to draw blood, especially for the first time. Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword. Shak. The wild dog Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent. Shak.

2. To glut; to satiate; hence, to harden, to accustom. "Fleshed in triumphs." Glanvill. Old soldiers Fleshed in the spoils of Germany and France. Beau. & Fl.

3. (Leather Manufacture)

Defn: To remove flesh, membrance, etc., from, as from hides.

FLESHED Fleshed, a.

1. Corpulent; fat; having flesh.

2. Glutted; satiated; initiated. Fleshed with slaughter. Dryden.

FLESHER Flesh"er, n.

1. A butcher. A flesher on a block had laid his whittle down. Macaulay.

2. A two-handled, convex, blunt-edged knife, for scraping hides; a fleshing knife.

FLESHHOOD Flesh"hood, n.

Defn: The state or condition of having a form of flesh; incarnation. [R.] Thou, who hast thyself Endured this fleshhood. Mrs. Browning.

FLESHINESS Flesh"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being fleshy; plumpness; corpulence; grossness. Milton.

FLESHINGS Flesh"ings, n. pl.

Defn: Flesh-colored tights, worn by actors dancers. D. Jerrold.

FLESHLESS Flesh"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of flesh; lean. Carlyle.

FLESHLINESS Flesh"li*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being fleshly; carnal passions and appetites. Spenser.

FLESHLING Flesh"ling, n.

Defn: A person devoted to fleshly things. [Obs.] Spenser.

FLESHLY Flesh"ly, a. Etym: [AS.

1. Of or pertaining to the flesh; corporeal. "Fleshly bondage." Denham.

2. Animal; not Dryden.

3. Human; not celestial; not spiritual or divine. "Fleshly wisdom." 2 Cor. i. 12. Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm And fragile arms. Milton.

4. Carnal; wordly; lascivious. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 1 Pet. ii. 11.

FLESHLY Flesh"ly, adv.

Defn: In a fleshly manner; carnally; lasciviously. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FLESHMENT Flesh"ment, n.

Defn: The act of fleshing, or the excitement attending a successful beginning. [R.] Shak.

FLESHMONGER Flesh"mon`ger, n. Etym: [AS. .]

Defn: One who deals in flesh; hence, a pimp; a procurer; a pander. [R.] Shak.

FLESHPOT Flesh"pot`, n.

Defn: A pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked; hence (pl.),

Defn: plenty; high living. In the land of Egypt . . . we sat by the fleshpots, and . . . did eat bread to the full. Ex. xvi. 3.

FLESHQUAKE Flesh"quake`, n.

Defn: A quaking or trembling of the flesh; a quiver. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

FLESHY Flesh"y, a. [Compar. Fleshier; superl. Fleshiest.]

1. Full of, or composed of, flesh; plump; corpulent; fat; gross. The sole of his foot is fleshy. Ray.

2. Human. [Obs.] "Fleshy tabernacle." Milton.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Composed of firm pulp; succulent; as, the houseleek, cactus, and agave are fleshy plants.

FLET Flet, p. p. of Fleet.

Defn: Skimmed. [Obs.]

FLETCH Fletch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fletched; p. pr. & vb. n. Fletching.] Etym: [F. flèche arrow.]

Defn: To feather, as an arrow. Bp. Warburton. [Congress] fletched their complaint, by adding: "America loved his brother." Bancroft.

FLETCHER Fletch"er, n. Etym: [OF. flechier.]

Defn: One who fletches of feathers arrows; a manufacturer of bows and arrows. [Obs.] Mortimer.

FLETE Flete, v. i. Etym: [See Fleet, v. i.]

Defn: To float; to swim. [Obs.] "Whether I sink or flete." Chaucer.

FLETIFEROUS Fle*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. fletifer; fletus a weeping (from flere, fletum, to weep) + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Producing tears. [Obs.] Blount.

FLEUR-DE-LIS Fleur`-de-lis`, n.; pl. Fleurs-de-lis. Etym: [F., flower of the lily. Cf. Flower-de-luce, Lily.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The iris. See Flower-de-luce.

2. A conventional flower suggested by the iris, and having a form which fits it for the terminal decoration of a scepter, the ornaments of a crown, etc. It is also a heraldic bearing, and is identified with the royal arms and adornments of France.

FLEURON Fleu`ron", n. [F., fr. OF. floron. Cf. Floroon.]

Defn: A flower-shaped ornament, esp. one terminating an object or forming one of a series, as a knob of a cover to a dish, or a flower- shaped part in a necklace.

FLEURY Fleur"y, a. Etym: [F. fleuri covered with flowers, p.p. of fleurir. See Flourish.] (Her.)

Defn: Finished at the ends with fleurs-de-lis; -- said esp. a cross so decorated.

FLEW Flew,

Defn: imp. of Fly.

FLEWED Flewed, a.

Defn: Having large flews. Shak.

FLEWS Flews, n. pl.

Defn: The pendulous or overhanging lateral parts of the upper lip of dogs, especially prominent in hounds; -- called also chaps. See Illust. of Bloodhound.

FLEX Flex, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flexing.] Etym: [L. flexus, p.p. of flectere to bend, perh. flectere and akin to falx sickle, E. falchion. Cf. Flinch.]

Defn: To bend; as, to flex the arm.

FLEX Flex, n.

Defn: Flax. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FLEXANIMOUS Flex*an"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. flexanimus; flectere, flexum, to bend + animus mind.]

Defn: Having power to change the mind. [Obs.] Howell.

FLEXIBILITY Flex`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. flexibilitas: cf. F. flexibilite.]

Defn: The state or quality of being flexible; flexibleness; pliancy; pliability; as, the flexibility of strips of hemlock, hickory, whalebone or metal, or of rays of light. Sir I. Newton. All the flexibility of a veteran courtier. Macaulay.

FLEXIBLE Flex"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. flexibilis: cf. F. flexible.]

1. Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle. When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks. Shak.

2. Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering. Phocion was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people. Bacon. Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible. Shak.

3. Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language. This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. Rogers.

Syn. -- Pliant; pliable; supple; tractable; manageable; ductile; obsequious; inconstant; wavering. -- Flex"i*ble*ness, n. -- Flex"i*bly, adv.

FLEXICOSTATE Flex`i*cos"tate, a. Etym: [L. flexus bent + E. costate.] (Anat.)

Defn: Having bent or curved ribs.

FLEXILE Flex"ile, a. Etym: [L. flexilis.]

Defn: Flexible; pliant; pliable; easily bent; plastic; tractable. Wordsworth.

FLEXION Flex"ion, n. Etym: [L. flexio: cf. F. flexion.]

1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning.

2. A bending; a part bent; a fold. Bacon.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: Syntactical change of form of words, as by declension or conjugation; inflection. Express the syntactical relations by flexion. Sir W. Hamilton.

4. (Physiol.)

Defn: The bending of a limb or joint; that motion of a joint which gives the distal member a continually decreasing angle with the axis of the proximal part; -- distinguished from extension.

FLEXOR Flex"or, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which bends or flexes any part; as, the flexors of the arm or the hand; -- opposed to extensor.

FLEXUOSE Flex"u*ose`, a.

Defn: Flexuous.

FLEXUOUS Flex"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. flexuosus, fr. flexus a bending, turning.]

1. Having turns, windings, or flexures.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having alternate curvatures in opposite directions; bent in a zigzag manner.

3. Wavering; not steady; flickering. Bacon.

FLEXURAL Flex"u*ral, a. Etym: [From Flexure.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, flexure; of the nature of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity.

FLEXURE Flex"ure, n. Etym: [L. flexura.]

1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning or curving; flexion; hence, obsequious bowing or bending. Will it give place to flexure and low bending Shak.

2. A turn; a bend; a fold; a curve. Varying with the flexures of the valley through which it meandered. British Quart. Rev.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The last joint, or bend, of the wing of a bird.

4. (Astron.)

Defn: The small distortion of an astronomical instrument caused by the weight of its parts; the amount to be added or substracted from the observed readings of the instrument to correct them for this distortion. The flexure of a curve (Math.), the bending of a curve towards or from a straight line.

FLIBBERGIB Flib"ber*gib, n.

Defn: A sycophant. [Obs. & Humorous.] "Flatterers and flibbergibs." Latimer.

FLIBBERTIGIBBET Flib"ber*ti*gib`bet, n.

Defn: An imp. Shak.

FLIBUSTIER Fli`bus`tier", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A buccaneer; an American pirate. See Flibuster. [Obs.]

FLICK Flick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flicking.] Etym: [Cf. Flicker.]

Defn: To whip lightly or with a quick jerk; to flap; as, to flick a horse; to flick the dirt from boots. Thackeray.

FLICK Flick, n.

Defn: A flitch; as, a flick of bacon.

FLICKER Flick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering.] Etym: [OE. flikeren, flekeren, to flutter, AS. flicerian, flicorian, cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. Flacker.]

1. To flutter; to flap the wings without flying. And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing. Dryden.

2. To waver unsteadily, like a flame in a current of air, or when about to expire; as, the flickering light. The shadows flicker to fro. Tennyson.

FLICKER Flick"er, n.

1. The act of wavering or of fluttering; flucuation; sudden and brief increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The golden-winged woodpecker (Colaptes aurutus); -- so called from its spring note. Called also yellow-hammer, high-holder, pigeon woodpecker, and yucca. The cackle of the flicker among the oaks. Thoureau.

FLICKERINGLY Flick"ering*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flickering manner.

FLICKERMOUSE Flick"er*mouse`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Flittermouse.

FLIDGE Flidge, a.

Defn: Fledged; fledge. [Obs.] Holland.

FLIDGE Flidge, v. i.

Defn: To become fledged; to fledge. [Obs.] Every day build their nests, every hour flidge. R. Greene.

FLIER Fli"er, n. Etym: [Form Fly, v.; cf. Flyer]

1. One who flies or flees; a runaway; a fugitive. Shak.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A fly. See Fly, n., 9, and 13 (b).

3. (Spinning)

Defn: See Flyer, n., 5.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: See Flyer, n., 4.

FLIGHT Flight, n. Etym: [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fleógan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fleón to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. sq. root84. See Flee, Fly.]

1. The act or flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying. Like the night owl's lazy flight. Shak.

2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected evil; hasty departure. Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. Matt. xxiv. 20. Fain by flight to save themselves. Shak.

3. Lofty elevation and excursion;a mounting; a soaas, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly. Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy. Byron. His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor. Macaulay.

4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows. Swift. Swift flights of angels ministrant. Milton. Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. Shak.

5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. Parker.

6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See Shaft. [Obs.] Challenged Cupid at the flight. Shak. Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have. Beau. & Fl.

7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. to take a flight{9}. Flight feathers (Zoöl.), the wing feathers of a bird, including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See Bird. -- To put to flight, To turn to flight, to compel to run away; to force to flee; to rout.

Syn. -- Pair; set. See Pair.

FLIGHTED Flight"ed, a.

1. Taking flight; flying; -- used in composition. "Drowsy-flighted steeds." Milton.

2. (Her.)

Defn: Feathered; -- said of arrows.

FLIGHTER Flight"er, n. (Brewing)

Defn: A horizontal vane revolving over the surface of wort in a cooler, to produce a circular current in the liquor. Knight.

FLIGHTILY Flight"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flighty manner.

FLIGHTINESS Flight"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being flighty. The flightness of her temper. Hawthorne.

Syn. -- Levity; giddiness; volatility; lightness; wildness; eccentricity. See Levity.

FLIGHT-SHOT Flight"-shot`, n.

Defn: The distance to which an arrow or flight may be shot; bowshot, -- about the fifth of a mile. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Within a flight-shot it inthe valley. Evelyn. Half a flight-shot from the king's oak. Sir W. Scott.

FLIGHTY Flight"y, a.

1. Fleeting; swift; transient. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook, Unless the deed go with it. Shak.

2. Indulging in flights, or wild and unrestrained sallies, of imagination, humor, caprice, etc.; given to disorder Proofs of my flighty and paradoxical turn of mind. Coleridge. A harsh disciplinarian and a flighty enthusiast. J. S. Har

FLIMFLAM Flim"flam, n. Etym: [Cf. Flam.]

Defn: A freak; a trick; a lie. Beau. & Fl.

FLIMSILY Flim"si*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flimsy manner.

FLIMSINESS Flim"si*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being flimsy.

FLIMSY Flim"sy, a. [Compar. Flimsier; superl. Flimsiest.] Etym: [Cf. W. llumsi naked, bare, empty, slouggish, spiritless. Cf. Limsy.]

Defn: Weak; feeble; limp; slight; vain; without strength or solidity; of loose and unsubstantial structure; without reason or plausibility; as, a flimsy argument, excuse, objection. Proud of a vast extent of flimsy lines. Pope. All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain. Sheridan.

Syn. -- Weak; feeble; superficial; shallow; vain.

FLIMSY Flim"sy, n.

1. Thin or transfer paper.

2. A bank note. [Slang, Eng.]

FLINCH Flinch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching.] Etym: [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. fléchir, fr. L. flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. Flex.]

1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat. A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining. Locke.

2. (Croquet)

Defn: To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

FLINCH Flinch, n.

Defn: The act of flinching.

FLINCHER Flinch"er, n.

Defn: One who flinches or fails.

FLINCHINGLY Flinch"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a flinching manner.

FLINDERMOUSE Flin"der*mouse`, n.Etym: [OE. vlindre moth (cf. D. vlinder butterfly) + E. mouse. Cf. Flittermouse, Flinders.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bat; a flittermouse.

FLINDERS Flin"ders, n. pl. Etym: [Scot. flenders, flendris; perh. akin to E. flutter; cf. D. flenters rags, broken pieces.]

Defn: Small pieces or splinters; fragments. The tough ash spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders flew. Sir W. Scott.

FLING Fling, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] Etym: [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. flänga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash.]

1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond. 'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings. Dryden. He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung. Dryden. I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, It straight takes fire. Addison.

2. To shed forth; to emit; to scatter. The sun begins to fling His flaring beams. Milton. Every beam new transient colors flings. Pope.

3. To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation. His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him. Walpole.

To fling about, to throw on all sides; to scatter. -- To fling away, to reject; to discard. Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. Shak. --To fling down. (a) To throw to the ground; esp., to throw in defiance, as formerly knights cast a glove into the arena as a challenge. This question so flung down before the guests, . . . Was handed over by consent of all To me who had not spoken. Tennyson. (b) To overturn; to demolish; to ruin. -- To fling in, to throw in; not to charge in an account; as, in settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days' work. -- To fling off, to baffle in the chase; to defeat of prey; also, to get rid of. Addison. -- To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence; as, to fling open a door. -- To fling out, to utter; to speak in an abrupt or harsh manner; as, to fling out hard words against another. -- To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design.

FLING Fling, v. i.

1. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling.

2. To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling.

3. To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste. And crop-full, out of doors he flings. Milton. I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath. Mrs. Browning. To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations.

FLING Fling, n.

1. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse.

2. A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm. I, who love to have a fling, Both at senate house and king. Swift.

3. A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling.

4. A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [Obs.] England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing. Old Proverb. To have one's fling, to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a season of dissipation. J. H. Newman. "When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure." D. Jerrold.

FLINGDUST Fling"dust`, n.

Defn: One who kicks up the dust; a streetwalker; a low manner. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

FLINGER Fling"er, n.

Defn: One who flings; one who jeers.