Chapter 604

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 <Xpage=570>

Flex`i*cos"tate (?) , a. [L. flexus bent + E. costate .] (Anat.) Having bent or curved ribs.

Flexile <Xpage=570>

Flex"ile (?) , a. [L. flexilis .] Flexible; pliant; pliable; easily bent; plastic; tractable.

Wordsworth.

Flexion <Xpage=570>

Flex"ion (?) , n. [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.) Syntactical change of form of words, as by declension or conjugation; inflection.

Express the syntactical relations by flexion . Sir W. Hamilton.

4. (Physiol.) 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 <Xpage=570>

Flex"or (?) , n. [NL.] (Anat.) A muscle which bends or flexes any part; as, the flexors of the arm or the hand ; -- opposed to extensor .

Flexuose <Xpage=570>

Flex"u*ose` (?; 135) , a. Flexuous.

Flexuous <Xpage=570>

Flex"u*ous (?) , a. [L. flexuosus , fr. flexus a bending, turning.] 1. Having turns, windings, or flexures.

2. (Bot.) Having alternate curvatures in opposite directions; bent in a zigzag manner.

3. Wavering; not steady; flickering.

Bacon.

Flexural <Xpage=570>

Flex"u*ral (?) , a. [From Flexure .] Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, flexure; of the nature of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity .

Flexure <Xpage=570>

Flex"ure (?; 135) , n. [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. (Zo\'94l.) The last joint, or bend, of the wing of a bird.

4. (Astron.) 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 <Xpage=570>

Flib"ber*gib (?) , n. A sycophant. [Obs. & Humorous.] "Flatterers and flibbergibs ."

Latimer.

Flibbertigibbet <Xpage=570>

Flib"ber*ti*gib`bet (?) , n. An imp.

Shak.

Flibustier <Xpage=570>

Fli`bus`tier" (?) , n. [F.] A buccaneer; an American pirate. See Flibuster . [Obs.]

Flick <Xpage=570>

Flick (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Flicked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flicking .] [Cf. Flicker .] To whip lightly or with a quick jerk; to flap; as, to flick a horse; to flick the dirt from boots.

Thackeray.

Flick <Xpage=570>

Flick , n. A flitch; as, a flick of bacon .

Flicker <Xpage=570>

Flick"er (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Flickered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering .] [OE. flikeren , flekeren , to flutter, AS. flicerian , flicorian , cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. <?/ 84. Cf. 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 <Xpage=570>

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. (Zo\'94l.) 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 <Xpage=570>

Flick"ering*ly , adv. In a flickering manner.

Flickermouse <Xpage=570>

Flick"er*mouse` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Flittermouse .

Flidge <Xpage=570>

Flidge (?) , a. Fledged; fledge. [Obs.]

Holland.

Flidge <Xpage=570>

Flidge , v. i. To become fledged; to fledge. [Obs.]

Every day build their nests, every hour flidge . R. Greene.

Flier <Xpage=570>

Fli"er (?) , n. [Form Fly , v .; cf . Flyer ] 1. One who flies or flees; a runaway; a fugitive.

Shak.

2. (Mach.) A fly. See Fly , n. , 9, and 13 (b) .

3. (Spinning) See Flyer , n. , 5.

4. (Arch.) See Flyer , n. , 4.

Flight <Xpage=570>

Flight (?) , n. [AS. fliht , flyht , a flying, fr. fle\'a2gan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fle\'a2n to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt , G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt , D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt . &root;84. 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 soa<?/ing; as, 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. <-- 8. a trip made by or in a flying vehicle, as an airplane, spacecraft, or aeronautical balloon. 9. A scheduled flight{8} -- to take a flight{9}. -->

Flight feathers (Zo\'94l.) , 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 <Xpage=570>

Flight"ed (?) , a. 1. Taking flight; flying; -- used in composition. "Drowsy- flighted steeds."

Milton.

2. (Her.) Feathered; -- said of arrows.

Flighter <Xpage=570>

Flight"er (?) , n. (Brewing) A horizontal vane revolving over the surface of wort in a cooler, to produce a circular current in the liquor.

Knight.

Flightily <Xpage=570>

Flight"i*ly (?) , adv. In a flighty manner.

Flightiness <Xpage=570>

Flight"i*ness , n. The state or quality of being flighty.

The flightness of her temper. Hawthorne.

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

Flight-shot <Xpage=570>

Flight"-shot` (?) , n. 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 <Xpage=570>

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<?/ fancies and extravagant conduct; volatile <?/ giddy; eccentric; slighty delirious.

Proofs of my flighty and paradoxical turn of mind. Coleridge.

A harsh disciplinarian and a flighty enthusiast. J. S. Har<?/ord.

Flimflam <Xpage=570>

Flim"flam (?) , n. [Cf. Flam .] A freak; a trick; a lie.

Beau. & Fl.

Flimsily <Xpage=570>

Flim"si*ly (?) , adv. In a flimsy manner.

Flimsiness <Xpage=570>

Flim"si*ness , n. The state or quality of being flimsy.

Flimsy <Xpage=570>

Flim"sy (?) , a. [ Compar. Flimsier (?) ; superl. Flimsiest .] [Cf. W. llumsi naked, bare, empty, slouggish, spiritless. Cf. Limsy .] 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 <Xpage=570>

Flim"sy , n. 1. Thin or transfer paper.

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

Flinch <Xpage=570>

Flinch (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Flinched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching .] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. fl\'82chir , 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) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Flinch <Xpage=570>

Flinch , n. The act of flinching.

Flincher <Xpage=570>

Flinch"er (?) , n. One who flinches or fails.

Flinchingly <Xpage=570>

Flinch"ing*ly , adv. In a flinching manner.

Flindermouse <Xpage=570>

Flin"der*mouse` (?) , n. [OE. vlindre moth (cf. D. vlinder butterfly) + E. mouse . Cf. Flittermouse , Flinders .] (Zo\'94l.) A bat; a flittermouse.

Flinders <Xpage=570>

Flin"ders (?) , n. pl. [Scot. flenders , flendris ; perh. akin to E. flutter ; cf. D. flenters rags, broken pieces.] Small pieces or splinters; fragments.

The tough ash spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders flew. Sir W. Scott.

Fling <Xpage=570>

Fling (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Flung (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging .] [OE. flingen , flengen , to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl\'84nga 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.

<page="571"> Page 571

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 <Xpage=571>

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 <Xpage=571>

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 <Xpage=571>

Fling"dust` (?) , n. One who kicks up the dust; a streetwalker; a low manner. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Flinger <Xpage=571>

Fling"er (?) , n. One who flings; one who jeers.

Flint <Xpage=571>

Flint (?) , n. [AS. flint , akin to Sw. flinta , Dan. flint ; cf. OHG. flins flint, G. flinte gun (cf. E. flint lock), perh. akin to Gr. <?/ brick. Cf. Plinth .] 1. (Min.) A massive, somewhat impure variety of quartz, in color usually of a gray to brown or nearly black, breaking with a conchoidal fracture and sharp edge. It is very hard, and strikes fire with steel.

2. A piece of flint for striking fire; -- formerly much used, esp. in the hammers of gun locks.

3. Anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding, like flint. "A heart of flint ."

Spenser.

Flint age . (Geol.) Same as Stone age , under Stone . -- Flint brick , a fire made principially of powdered silex. -- Flint glass . See in the Vocabulary. -- Flint implements (Arch\'91ol.) , tools, etc., employed by men before the use of metals, such as axes, arrows, spears, knives, wedges, etc., which were commonly made of flint, but also of granite, jade, jasper, and other hard stones. -- Flint mill . (a) (Pottery) A mill in which flints are ground. (b) (Mining) An obsolete appliance for lighting the miner at his work, in which flints on a revolving wheel were made to produce a shower of sparks, which gave light, but did not inflame the fire damp. Knight. -- Flint stone , a hard, siliceous stone; a flint. -- Flint wall , a kind of wall, common in England, on the face of which are exposed the black surfaces of broken flints set in the mortar, with quions of masonry. -- Liquor of flints , a solution of silica, or flints, in potash. -- To skin a flint , to be capable of, or guilty of, any expedient or any meanness for making money. [Colloq.]

Flint glass <Xpage=571>

Flint" glass` (?) . (Chem.) A soft, heavy, brilliant glass, consisting essentially of a silicate of lead and potassium. It is used for tableware, and for optical instruments, as prisms, its density giving a high degree of dispersive power; -- so called, because formerly the silica was obtained from pulverized flints. Called also crystal glass . Cf. Glass .

&hand; The concave or diverging half on an achromatic lens is usually made of flint glass .

Flint-hearted <Xpage=571>

Flint"-heart`ed (?) , a. Hard-hearted.

Shak.

Flintiness <Xpage=571>

Flint"i*ness (?) , n. The state or quality of being flinty; hardness; cruelty.

Beau. & Fl.

Flintlock <Xpage=571>

Flint"lock` (?) , n. 1. A lock for a gun or pistol, having a flint fixed in the hammer, which on stricking the steel ignites the priming.

2. A hand firearm fitted with a flintlock; esp., the old-fashioned musket of European and other armies.

Flintware <Xpage=571>

Flint"ware` (?) , n. A superior kind of earthenware into whose composition flint enters largely.

Knight.

Flintwood <Xpage=571>

Flint"wood` (?) , n. (Bot.) An Australian name for the very hard wood of the Eucalyptus piluralis .

Flinty <Xpage=571>