Chapter 603

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 <Xpage=569>

Fleeced (?) , a. 1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced .

Spenser.

2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed.

Fleeceless <Xpage=569>

Fleece"less (?) , a. Without a fleece.

Fleecer <Xpage=569>

Flee"cer (?) , n. One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or fraund.

Prynne.

Fleecy <Xpage=569>

Flee"cy (?) , a. Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. " Fleecy flocks."

Prior.

Fleen <Xpage=569>

Fleen (?) , n. pl. Obs. pl. of Flea .

Chaucer.

Fleer <Xpage=569>

Fle"er (?) , n. One who flees.

Ld. Berners.

Fleer <Xpage=569>

Fleer (?) , [ imp. & p. p. Fleered (<?/) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering .] [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 <Xpage=569>

Fleer , v. t. To mock; to flout at.

Beau. & Fl.

Flear <Xpage=569>

Flear , 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 <Xpage=569>

Fleer"er (?) , n. One who fleers.

Beau. & Fl.

Fleeringly <Xpage=569>

Fleer"ing*ly , adv. In a fleering manner.

Fleet <Xpage=569>

Fleet (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fleeted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeting .] [OE. fleten , fleoten , to swim, AS. fle\'a2tan to swim, float; akin to D. vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan , OHG. fliozzan , G. fliessen , Icel. flj&omac;ta to float, flow, Sw. flyta , D. flyde , L. pluere to rain, Gr. <?/ to sail, swim, float, Skr. plu to swim, sail. &root;84. 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.) To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; -- said of a cable or hawser.

Fleet <Xpage=569>

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 <Xpage=569>

Fleet , a. [ Compar. Fleeter (?) ; superl. Fleetest .] [Cf. Icel. flj<?/tr 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 <Xpage=569>

Fleet , n. [OE. flete , fleote , AS. fle\'a2t ship, fr. fle\'a2tan to float, swim. See Fleet , v. i. and cf. Float .] 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 <Xpage=569>

Fleet , n. [AS. fle\'a2t 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 <Xpage=569>

Fleet (?) , v. t. [AS. fl&emac;t cream, fr. fle\'a2tan to float. See Fleet , v. i. ] To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.]

Johnson.

Fleeten <Xpage=569>

Fleet"en (?) , n. 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 <Xpage=569>

Fleet"-foot` (?) , a. Swift of foot.

Shak.

Fleeting <Xpage=569>

Fleet"ing , a. Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments .

Syn. -- Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient .

Fleetingly <Xpage=569>

Fleet"ing*ly , adv. In a fleeting manner; swiftly.

Fleetings <Xpage=569>

Fleet"ings (?) , n. pl. A mixture of buttermilk and boiling whey; curds. [prov. Eng.]

Wright.

Fleetly <Xpage=569>

Fleet"ly , adv. In a fleet manner; rapidly.

Fleetness <Xpage=569>

Fleet"ness , n. Swiftness; rapidity; velocity; celerity; speed; as, the fleetness of a horse or of time .

Fleigh <Xpage=569>

Fleigh (?) , obs. imp. of Fly .

Chaucer.

Fleme <Xpage=569>

Fleme (?) , v. t. [AS. fl&emac;man , fl&ymac;man .] To banish; to drive out; to expel. [Obs.] "Appetite flemeth discretion ."

Chaucer.

Flemer <Xpage=569>

Flem"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, banishes or expels. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Fleming <Xpage=569>

Flem"ing (?) , n. A native or inhabitant of Flanders.

Flemish <Xpage=569>

Flem"ish (?) , a. Pertaining to Flanders, or the Flemings. -- n. 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 <Xpage=569>

Flench (?) , v. t. Same as Flence .

Flense <Xpage=569>

Flense (?) , v. t. [Cf. Dan. flense , D. vlensen , vlenzen , Scot. flinch .] 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 <Xpage=569>

Flesh (?) , n. [OE. flesch , flesc , AS. fl<?/sc ; akin to OFries. fl\'besk , D. vleesch , OS. fl<?/sk , OHG. fleisc , G. fleisch , Icel. & Dan. flesk lard, bacon, pork, Sw. fl\'84sk .] 1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which cover the framework of bones in man and other animals; especially, the muscles.

&hand; In composition it is mainly albuminous<-- proteinaceous-->, 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.

&hand; 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 (Zo\'94l.) , one of several species of flies whose larv\'91 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 (Zo\'94l.) , 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 <Xpage=569>

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) To remove flesh, membrance, etc., from, as from hides.

<page="570"> Page 570

Fleshed <Xpage=570>

Fleshed (?) , a. 1. Corpulent; fat; having flesh.

2. Glutted; satiated; initiated.

Fleshed with slaughter. Dryden.

Flesher <Xpage=570>

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 <Xpage=570>

Flesh"hood (?) , n. The state or condition of having a form of flesh; incarnation. [R.]

Thou, who hast thyself Endured this fleshhood . Mrs. Browning.

Fleshiness <Xpage=570>

Flesh"i*ness (?) , n. The state of being fleshy; plumpness; corpulence; grossness.

Milton.

Fleshings <Xpage=570>

Flesh"ings (?) , n. pl. Flesh-colored tights, worn by actors dancers.

D. Jerrold.

Fleshless <Xpage=570>

Flesh"less , a. Destitute of flesh; lean.

Carlyle.

Fleshliness <Xpage=570>

Flesh"li*ness (?) , n. The state of being fleshly; carnal passions and appetites.

Spenser.

Fleshing <Xpage=570>

Flesh"ing (?) , n. A person devoted to fleshly things. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Fleshly <Xpage=570>

Flesh"ly (?) , a. [AS. <?/.] 1. Of or pertaining to the flesh; corporeal. " Fleshly bondage."

Denham.

2. Animal; not<?/vegetable.

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 <Xpage=570>

Flesh"ly , adv. In a fleshly manner; carnally; lasciviously. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Fleshment <Xpage=570>

Flesh"ment (?) , n. The act of fleshing, or the excitement attending a successful beginning. [R.]

Shak.

Fleshmonger <Xpage=570>

Flesh"mon`ger (?) , n. [AS. <?/ mangere .] One who deals in flesh; hence, a pimp; a procurer; a pander. [R.]

Shak.

Fleshpot <Xpage=570>

Flesh"pot` (?) , n. A pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked ; hence ( pl. ), plenty; high living.

In the land of Egypt . . . we sat by the fleshpots , and . . . did eat bread to the full. Ex. xvi. 3.

Fleshquake <Xpage=570>

Flesh"quake` (?) , n. A quaking or trembling of the flesh; a quiver. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Fleshy <Xpage=570>

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

Flet <Xpage=570>

Flet (?) , p. p. of Fleet . Skimmed. [Obs.]

Fletch <Xpage=570>

Fletch (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fletched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fletching .] [F. fl\'8ache arrow.] To feather, as an arrow.

Bp. Warburton.

[Congress] fletched their complaint, by adding: "America loved his brother." Bancroft.

Fletcher <Xpage=570>

Fletch"er (?) , n. [OF. flechier .] One who fletches of feathers arrows; a manufacturer of bows and arrows. [Obs.]

Mortimer.

Flete <Xpage=570>

Flete (?) , v. i. [See Fleet , v. i. ] To float; to swim. [Obs.] "Whether I sink or flete ."

Chaucer.

Fletiferous <Xpage=570>

Fle*tif"er*ous (?) , a. [L. fletifer ; fletus a weeping (from flere , fletum , to weep) + ferre to bear.] Producing tears. [Obs.]

Blount.

Fleur-de-lis <Xpage=570>

Fleur`-de-lis` (?) , n. ; pl. Fleurs-de-lis (#) . [F., flower of the lily. Cf. Flower-de-luce , Lily .] 1. (Bot.) 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.

Fleury <Xpage=570>

Fleur"y (?) , a. [F. fleuri covered with flowers, p.p. of fleurir . See Flourish .] (Her.) Finished at the ends with fleurs-de-lis; -- said esp. a cross so decorated.

Flew <Xpage=570>

Flew (?) , imp. of Fly .

Flewed <Xpage=570>

Flewed (?) , a. Having large flews.

Shak.

Flews <Xpage=570>

Flews (?) , n. pl. The pendulous or overhanging lateral parts of the upper lip of dogs, especially prominent in hounds; -- called also chaps . See Illust . of Bloodhound .

Flex <Xpage=570>

Flex (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Flexed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flexing .] [L. flexus , p.p. of flectere to bend, perh. flectere and akin to falx sickle, E. falchion . Cf. Flinch .] To bend; as, to flex the arm .

Flex <Xpage=570>

Flex , n. Flax. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Flexanimous <Xpage=570>

Flex*an"i*mous (?) , a. [L. flexanimus ; flectere , flexum , to bend + animus mind.] Having power to change the mind. [Obs.]

Howell.

Flexibility <Xpage=570>

Flex`i*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [L. flexibilitas : cf. F. flexibilite .] 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 <Xpage=570>

Flex"i*ble (?) , a. [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.