Chapter 24

Fleet (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeting.] [OE. fleten, fleoten, to swim, AS. fleÛtan to swim, float; akin to D. vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan, OHG. fliozzan, G. fliessen, Icel. fljta to float, flow, Sw. flyta, D. flyde, L. pluere to rain, Gr. &?; to sail, swim, float, Skr. plu to swim, sail. √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, 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, 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 penetrating deep, as soil. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.

Fleet, n. [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleÛt ship, fr. fleÛtan 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, n. [AS. fleÛt 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 (?), v. t. [AS. flt cream, fr. fleÛtan to float. See Fleet, v. i.] To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

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` (?), a. Swift of foot. Shak.

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

Syn. -- Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient.

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

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

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

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

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

Fleme (?), v. t. [AS. flman, flman.] To banish; to drive out; to expel. [Obs.] "Appetite flemeth discretion." Chaucer.

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

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

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

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

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.

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 (Zoˆl.), one of several species of flies whose larvÊ 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 (Zoˆl.), 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, 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.

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

2. Glutted; satiated; initiated.

Fleshed with slaughter.

Dryden.

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.

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

Thou, who hast thyself Endured this fleshhood.

Mrs. Browning.

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

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

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

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

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

Flesh"ly (-l), a. [AS. flsclc.] 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Fletch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fletched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fletching.] [F. flËche arrow.] To feather, as an arrow. Bp. Warburton.

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

Bancroft.

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

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

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` (?), 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.

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. of a cross so decorated.

Flew (?), imp. of Fly.

Flewed (?), a. Having large flews. Shak.

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 (?), 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, n. Flax. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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. (Zoˆl.) 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.

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

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

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

Flick (flk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flicked (flkt); 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, n. A flitch; as, a flick of bacon.

Flick"er (-r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flickered (-rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering.] [OE. flikeren, flekeren, to flutter, AS. flicerian, flicorian, cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. &radic;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.

Flick"er, n. 1. The act of wavering or of fluttering; fluctuation; sudden and brief increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame.

2. (Zoˆl.) The golden-winged woodpecker (Colaptes auratus); -- 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.

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

Flick"er*mouse` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Flittermouse.

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

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

Every day build their nests, every hour flidge.

R. Greene.

Fli"er (fl"r), 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 (flt), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fleÛgan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fleÛn to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. &radic;84. See Flee, Fly.] 1. The act of 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 danger 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 soaring; 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.

Flight feathers (Zoˆl.), 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.

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

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

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.

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

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` (?), 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.

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 disordered 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. Harford.

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

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

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

Flim"sy (?), a. [Compar. Flimsier (?); superl. Flimsiest.] [Cf. W. llymsi naked, bare, empty, sluggish, 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.

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

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

Flinch (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching.] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. flÈchir, 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, n. The act of flinching.

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

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

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

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 (flng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung (flng); p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl‰nga 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.

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