FLAVOUR, fl[=a]'vur, _n._ that quality of anything which affects the smell or the palate: a smack or relish.--_v.t._ to impart flavour to.--_adj._ FL[=A]'VOROUS.--_n._ FL[=A]'VOURING, any substance used to give a flavour.--_adj._ FL[=A]'VOURLESS. [O. Fr. _flaur_; prob. related to L.
_fragr[=a]re_ or to _fl[=a]re_.]
FLAW, flaw, _n._ a gust of wind: a sudden rush, uproar. [Cf. Dut. _vlaag_, Sw. _flaga_.]
FLAW, flaw, _n._ a break, a crack: a defect.--_v.t._ to crack or break.--_adjs._ FLAW'LESS; FLAW'Y. [Ice. _flaga_, a slab.]
FLAWN, flawn, _n._ a custard, pancake. [O. Fr. _flaon_--Low L.
_fladon-em_--Old High Ger. _flado_.]
FLAX, flax, _n._ the fibres of the plant Linum, which are woven into linen cloth: the flax-plant.--_ns._ FLAX'-COMB, a toothed instrument or heckle for cleaning the fibres of flax; FLAX'-DRESS'ER, one who prepares flax for the spinner by the successive processes of rippling, retting, grassing, breaking, and scutching.--_adj._ FLAX'EN, made of or resembling flax: fair, long, and flowing.--_ns._ FLAX'-MILL, a mill for working flax into linen; FLAX'-SEED, linseed; FLAX'-WENCH, a female who spins flax.--_adj._ FLAX'Y, like flax: of a light colour.--NEW ZEALAND FLAX, a valuable fibre, quite different from common flax, obtained from the leaf of _Phormium tenax_, the flax lily or flax bush. [A.S. _fleax_; Ger. _flachs_.]
FLAY, fl[=a], _v.t._ to strip off the skin:--_pr.p._ flay'ing; _pa.p._ flayed.--_ns._ FLAY'ER; FLAY'-FLINT, a skinflint. [A.S _flean_; Ice. _fla_, to skin.]
FLEA, fl[=e], _n._ a well-known wingless insect of great agility, ectoparasitic on warm-blooded animals.--_ns._ FLEA'-BANE, a genus of plants which emit a strong smell said to have the power of driving away fleas; FLEA'-BITE, the bite of a flea: a small mark caused by the bite: (_fig._) a trifle.--_adj._ FLEA'-BIT'TEN, bitten by fleas: (_fig._) mean: having small reddish spots on a lighter ground, of horses.--A FLEA IN ONE'S EAR, a caution, rebuff, anything specially irritating. [A.S. _fleah_; cf. Ger.
_floh_, Dut. _vloo_.]
FLEAM, fl[=e]m, _n._ an instrument for bleeding cattle. [Fr. _flamme_--Gr.
_phlebotomon_, a lancet--_phleps_, _phlebos_, a vein, and _tem-nein_, to cut.]
FLeCHE, fl[=a]sh, _n._ a spire generally: the slender spire rising from the intersection of the nave and transepts in some large churches: (_fort._) a parapet with two faces forming a salient angle at the foot of a glacis.
[Fr., 'an arrow.']
FLECK, flek, _n._ a spot or speckle: a little bit of a thing.--_vs.t._ FLECK, FLECK'ER, to spot: to streak.--_adjs._ FLECKED, spotted, dappled; FLECK'LESS, without spot. [Ice. _flekkr_, a spot; Ger. _fleck_, Dut.
_vlek_.]
FLECTION. Same as FLEXION.
FLED, fled, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of FLEE.
FLEDGE, flej, _v.t._ to furnish with feathers or wings.--_v.i._ to acquire feathers for flying.--_n._ FLEDG'LING, a little bird just fledged.--_adj._ FLEDG'Y (_Keats_), feathery. [M. E. _fligge_, _flegge_--A.S. _flycge_, fledged (cf. Ger. _flugge_)--_fleogan_, to fly (Ger. _fliegen_).]
FLEE, fl[=e], _v.i._ to run away, as from danger: to disappear.--_v.t._ to keep at a distance from:--_pr.p._ flee'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ fled.--_n._ FL[=E]'ER. [A.S. _fleon_, akin to _fleogan_, to fly; Ger. _fliehen_, akin to _fliegen_, to fly.]
FLEECE, fl[=e]s, _n._ the coat of wool shorn from a sheep at one time: anything like a fleece.--_v.t._ to clip wool from: to plunder: to cover, as with wool.--_adjs._ FLEECED, having a fleece; FLEECE'LESS.--_ns._ FLEE'CER, one who strips or plunders; FLEECE'-WOOL, that shorn from the living animal.--_adj._ FLEEC'Y, woolly. [A.S. _fleos_; Dut. _vlies_, Ger.
_fliess_.]
FLEECH, fl[=e]ch, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to flatter, coax, beg.--_ns._ FLEECH'ING, FLEECH'MENT.
FLEER, fl[=e]r, _v.t._ or _v.i._ to make wry faces in contempt, to mock.--_n._ mockery.--_n._ FLEER'ING.--_adv._ FLEER'INGLY. [Cf. Norw.
_flira_, Sw. _flissa_, to titter.]
FLEET, fl[=e]t, _n._ a number of ships in company, esp. ships of war: a division of the navy, commanded by an admiral. [A.S. _fleot_, a ship--_fleotan_, to float; conn. with Dut. _vloot_, Ger. _flotte_.]
FLEET, fl[=e]t, _adj._ swift: nimble: transient: (_prov._) shallow.--_adjs._ FLEET'-FOOT (_Shak._), fleet or swift of foot; FLEET'ING, passing quickly: temporary.--_advs._ FLEET'INGLY; FLEET'LY.--_n._ FLEET'NESS. [Prob. Ice. _fliotr_, swift; but ult. cog. with succeeding word.]
FLEET, fl[=e]t, _v.i._ to flit, pass swiftly.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to make to pass quickly:--_pr.p._ fleet'ing; _pa.p._ fleet'ed. [A.S. _fleotan_, to float.]
FLEET, fl[=e]t, _n._ a shallow creek or bay, as in North_fleet_, _Fleet_-ditch, &c.--THE FLEET, or FLEET PRISON, a London gaol down to 1842, long a place of confinement for debtors--clandestine marriages were solemnised here down to 1754 by broken-down clergymen confined for debt.
[A.S. _fleot_, an inlet.]
FLEMISH, flem'ish, _adj._ of or belonging to the _Flemings_ or people of Flanders, or their language.--_n._ FLEM'ING, a native of Flanders.--FLEMISH SCHOOL, a school of painting formed by the brothers Van Eyck, reaching its height in Rubens, Vandyck, and Teniers; FLEMISH STITCH, a stitch used in making certain kinds of point-lace. [Dut. _Vlaamsch_.]
FLENCH, flensh, _v.t._ to cut up the blubber of, as a whale.--Also FLENSE, FLINCH. [Dan. _flense_.]
FLESH, flesh, _n._ the soft substance which covers the bones of animals: animal food: the bodies of beasts and birds, not fish: the body, not the soul: animals or animal nature: mankind: kindred: bodily appetites: the present life: the soft substance of fruit: the part of a fruit fit to be eaten: (_B._) man's visible nature (as opposed to _Pneuma_ or _Spirit_), his human or bodily nature, the seat of sin, but not originally or necessarily evil.--_v.t._ to train to an appetite for flesh, as dogs for hunting: to accustom: to glut: to use upon flesh, as a sword, esp. for the first time.--_ns._ FLESH'-BROTH, broth made by boiling flesh; FLESH'-BRUSH, a brush used for rubbing the skin to excite circulation; FLESH'-COL'OUR, pale red, like the normal colour of the cheek of a child.--_adj._ FLESHED (flesht), having flesh: fat.--_ns._ FLESH'ER (_Scot._), a butcher; FLESH'-FLY, a fly that deposits its eggs in and feeds on flesh; FLESH'HOOD (_Mrs Browning_), the state of being in the flesh; FLESH'-HOOK, a hook for drawing flesh from a pot; FLESH'INESS.--_n.pl._ FLESH'INGS, thin flesh-coloured dress worn by dancers, actors, &c.--_adj._ FLESH'LESS, without flesh: lean.--_ns._ FLESH'LINESS; FLESH'LING (_Spens._), one wholly devoted to sensuality.--_adj._ FLESH'LY, corporeal: carnal: not spiritual--also _adv._ FLESH'LY-MIND'ED, given to sensual pleasures: carnally-minded.--_ns._ FLESH'-MEAT, flesh of animals used for food; FLESH'MENT (_Shak._), act of fleshing or initiating, excitement arising from success; FLESH'MONGER, one who deals in flesh: (_Shak._) a procurer, a pimp; FLESH'-POT, a pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked: (_fig._) abundance of flesh, high living; FLESH'-POTTERY, sumptuous living; FLESH'-TINT, the tint or colour that best represents the human body; FLESH'-WORM, a worm that feeds on flesh; FLESH'-WOUND, a wound not reaching beyond the flesh.--_adj._ FLESH'Y, fat: pulpy: plump.--AN ARM OF FLESH, human strength or help; IN THE FLESH, in life, alive: (_B._) under control of the lower nature. [A.S. _fl['ae]sc_; cog. forms in all Teut. languages; Ger. _fleisch_, &c.]
FLETCH, flech, _v.i._ to feather.--_n._ FLETCH'ER, one who makes arrows.
[Fr. _fleche_, an arrow.]
[Illustration]
FLEUR-DE-LIS, fl[=oo]r'-de-l[=e]', _n._ the flower of the lily: (_her._) a bearing explained as representing three flowers of the white lily joined together, or the white iris--commonly called _Flower-de-luce_:--_pl._ FLEURS'-DE-LIS'--the arms of the Bourbons and of France.--_ns._ FLEUR'ET, an ornament like a small flower: a fencing-foil; FLEUR'Y (_her._), decorated with a fleur-de-lis, or with the upper part only. [Fr., _lis_ being for L. _lilium_, a lily.]
FLEW, fl[=oo], _pa.t._ of FLY.
FLEWED, fl[=oo]d, _adj._ (_Shak._) having large chops (of dogs). [Ety.
unknown.]
FLEXIBLE, fleks'i-bl, FLEXILE, fleks'il, _adj._ easily bent: pliant: docile.--_v.t._ FLEX, to bend or make a flexure of.--_adjs._ FLEXAN'IMOUS, influencing the mind; FLEXED, bent.--_ns._ FLEX'IBLENESS, FLEXIBIL'ITY, pliancy: easiness to be persuaded.--_adv._ FLEX'IBLY.--_ns._ FLEX'ION, FLEC'TION, a bend: a fold: the action of a flexor muscle; FLEX'OR, a muscle which bends a joint, as opposed to _Extensor_.--_adjs._ FLEX'[=U]OUS, FLEX'[=U]OSE, of windings and turnings: variable.--_n._ FLEX'[=U]RE, a bend or turning: (_math._) the curving of a line or surface: the bending of loaded beams: (_Shak._) obsequious bowing. [L. _flexibilis_, _flexilis_--_flect[)e]re_, _flexum_, to bend.]
FLEY, FLAY, fl[=a], _v.t._ to cause to fly: to frighten.--_v.i._ to be frightened. [M. E. _flayen_--A.S. _flegan_, _fleogan_, to fly; Ice.
_fleyja_, Goth. _flaugjan_.]
FLIBBERTIGIBBET, flib'er-ti-jib'et, _n._ a flighty person: an imp. [Most prob. jargon.]
FLICK, flik, _v.t._ to strike lightly.--_n._ a flip.
FLICKER, flik'[.e]r, _v.i._ to flutter and move the wings, as a bird: to burn unsteadily, as a flame.--_n._ an act of flickering, a flickering movement.--_v.i._ FLICHT'ER, (_Scot._), to flutter, quiver.--_adv._ FLICK'ERINGLY. [A.S. _flicorian_; imit.]
FLIER, FLYER, fl[=i]'[.e]r, _n._ one who flies or flees: a part of a machine with rapid motion.
FLIGHT, fl[=i]t, _n._ a passing through the air: a soaring: excursion: a sally: a series of steps: a flock of birds flying together: the birds produced in the same season: a volley or shower: act of fleeing: hasty removal.--_adj._ FLIGHT'ED (_Milt._), flying.--_adv._ FLIGHT'ILY.--_n._ FLIGHT'INESS.--_adj._ FLIGHT'Y, fanciful: changeable: giddy. [A.S.
_flyht_--_fleogan_.]
FLIM-FLAM, flim'-flam, _n._ a trick. [Formed like _skimble-skamble_, _whim-wham_, &c.]
FLIMP, flimp, _v.t._ (_slang_) to snatch a watch while a confederate prods the victim in the back.
FLIMSY, flim'zi, _adj._ thin: without solidity, strength, or reason: weak.--_n._ transfer-paper: (_slang_) a bank-note: reporters' copy written on thin paper.--_adv._ FLIM'SILY, in a flimsy manner.--_n._ FLIM'SINESS.
[First in 18th century. Prob. an onomatopoeic formation suggested by _film_.]
FLINCH, flinsh, _v.i._ to shrink back: to fail.--_ns._ FLINCH'ER; FLINCH'ING, the act of flinching or shrinking.--_adv._ FLINCH'INGLY. [M. E.
_flecchen_--O. Fr. _flechir_, prob. from L. _flect[)e]re_, to bend.]
FLINDER, flin'der, _n._ a splinter or small fragment--usually in _pl._ [Norw. _flindra_, a splinter.]
FLINDERSIA, flin-der'si-a, _n._ a genus of Australian and African trees, yielding African and Madeira mahogany, or Calcedra wood. [From the Australian explorer, Captain Matthew _Flinders_, 1774-1814.]