Flageolet - Flank

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Flageolet (?), n. [F. flageolet, dim. of OF. flaj�l (as if fr. a LL. flautio;us), of flaüte, flahute, F. fl�te. See .] (Mus.) A small wooden pipe, having six or more holes, and a mouthpiece inserted at one end. It produces a shrill sound, softer than of the piccolo flute, and is said to have superseded the old recorder.
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Coloq. Flageolet tones (Mus.), the naturel harmonics or overtones of stringed instruments.
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Flagginess (?), n. The condition of being flaggy; laxity; limberness. Johnson.
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Flagging (?), n. A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively.
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Flagging, a. Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying. -- Flaggingly, adv.
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Flaggy (?), a. 1. Weak; flexible; limber. “Flaggy wings.” Spenser.
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2. Tasteless; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Flaggy, a. [From 5th .] Abounding with the plant called flag; as, a flaggy marsh.
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Flagitate (?), v. t. [L. flagitatus, p. p. of flagitare to demand. See .] To importune; to demand fiercely or with passion. [Archaic] Carcyle.
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Flagitation (?), n. [L. flagitatio.] Importunity; urgent demand. [Archaic] Carlyle.
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Flagitious (?), a. [L. flagitiosus, fr. flagitium a shameful or disgraceful act, orig., a burning desire, heat of passion, from flagitare to demand hotly, fiercely; cf. flagrare to burn, E. flagrant.] 1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; shameful; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.
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Debauched principles and flagitious practices. I. Taylor.
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2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons. Pope.
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3. Characterized by scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times. Pope.

Syn. -- Atrocious; villainous; flagrant; heinous; corrupt; profligate; abandoned. See .

-- Flagitiously, adv. -- Flagitiousness, n.
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A sentence so flagitiously unjust. Macaulay.
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Flagman (?), n.; pl. Flagmen (�). One who makes signals with a flag.
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Flagon (?), n. [F. flacon, for flascon, fr. OF. flasche, from LL. flasco. See .] A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.
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A trencher of mutton chops, and a flagon of ale. Macaulay.
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flagpole (flăgpōl), n. A pole used to display a flag.
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Flagpole sitter (flăgpōl sĭttẽr), n. A person who sits for an extended period of time on top of a flagpole or other high column; -- a publicity stunt performed for various reasons.
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He [Shipwreck Kelly] was the great flagpole sitter of the thirties, the founding father of the whole discipline, who provided inspiration for many and even the pseudonym for one -- Van Nolan, who also called himself Shipwreck. Any serious polesitter believes himself an avatar of Shipwreck Kelly, and I was then and am now no exception. From: John A. Gould, Aerie (Berkshire Review, Volume XI, Number 1, Spring, 1975).

The two other holy men in Gregory's narrative had more exotic origins than the pair that has just been seen. Gregory encountered one of them when on a journey to the north-eastern parts of the Frankish kingdom. This was a Lombard, named Vulfolaic, who had spent some years in the arduous exercise of being a stylite, the Christian equivalent of a flagpole sitter; in other words, Vulfolaic was a monk whose main austerity consisted in living on top of a pillar. By carrying out this feat in the rain, snow, and frost of the Moselle valley, Vulfolaic had convinced the local population to overthrow and abandon the idol of Diana to which they were addicted. Walter Goffart, FOREIGNERS IN THE HISTORIES OF GREGORY OF TOURS (http://www.arts.uwo.ca/florilegium/goffart.html).

Flagrance (?), n. Flagrancy. Bp. Hall.
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Flagrancy (?), n.; pl. Flagrancies (#). [L. flagrantia a burning. See .] 1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.]
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Lust causeth a flagrancy in the eyes. Bacon.
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2. The condition or quality of being flagrant; atrocity; heiniousness; enormity; excess. Steele.
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Flagrant (?), a. [L. flagrans, -antis, p. pr. of flagrate to burn, akin to Gr. �: cf. F. flagrant. Cf. , .] 1. Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent.
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The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back. Prior.
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A young man yet flagrant from the lash of the executioner or the beadle. De Quincey.
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Flagrant desires and affections. Hooker.
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2. Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging.
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A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant. Palfrey.
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3. Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly wicked.

Syn. -- Atrocious; flagitious; glaring. See .
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Flagrantly, adv. In a flagrant manner.
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Flagrate (?), v. t. [L. flagrare, flagratum, v.i. & t., to burn.] To burn. [Obs.] Greenhill.
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Flagration (?), n. A conflagration. [Obs.]
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Flagship (?), n. (Naut.) The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.
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Flagstaff (?), n.; pl. -staves (�) or -staffs (�). A staff{4} on which a flag is hoisted.
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Flagstone (?), n. A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into such stones. See , a stone.
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flag-waver n. an extreme bellicose nationalist.
Syn. -- chauvinist, jingoist, jingo, hundred-percenter.
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flag-waving adj. fanatically patriotic; same as . [prenominal]
Syn. -- chauvinistic, jingoistic, nationalistic, superpatriotic.
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Flagworm (?), n. (Zoöl.) A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.
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Flail (?), n. [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. fléau. See .] 1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand, consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing freely.
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His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn. Milton.
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2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. Fairholt.
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No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins. Macaulay.
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Flaily (?), a. Acting like a flail. [Obs.] Vicars.
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Flain (?), obs. p. p. of . Chaucer.
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Flair (flâr), n. [OE. flaireodor, fr. OF. & F. flair, fr. OF. flairier, F. flairer, to smell, LL. flagrare for L. fragrare. See .] 1. Smell; odor. [Obs.]
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2. Sense of smell; scent; fig., discriminating sense.
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3. A talent or ability, expecially an intuitive one that makes performance of a task appear easy; an intuitive appreciation; a knack; as, she has a flair for acting.
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4. An attractive way of performing a task; style.
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Flake (flāk), n. [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.] 1. A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]
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2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.
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You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have straw nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth table, boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer. English Husbandman.
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3. (Naut.) A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on in calking, etc.
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Flake (flāk), n. [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna to flake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake. Cf. a flat stone.] 1. A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish. “Lottle flakes of scurf.” Addison.
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Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn.
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2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash.
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With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville.
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3. (Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes.
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4. a person who behaves strangely; a flaky{2} person. [Colloq.]
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Coloq. Flake knife (Archæol.), a cutting instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard stone. Tylor. -- Coloq. Flake stand , the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight. -- Coloq. Flake white . (Paint.) (a) The purest white lead, in the form of flakes or scales. (b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.
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Flake (?), n. [Etym. uncertain; cf. 1st .] A flat layer, or fake, of a coiled cable.

Flake after flake ran out of the tubs, until we were compelled to hand the end of our line to the second mate. F. T. Bullen.
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Flake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.] To form into flakes. Pope.
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Flake, v. i. To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.
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Flakiness (?), n. The state of being flaky.
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Flaky (?), a. 1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.
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What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires! Watts.
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A flaky weight of winter's purest snows. Wordsworth.
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2. prone to strange or erratic behavior; -- of persons.
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3. odd, unpredictable or unconventional; offbeat; whacky; -- of behavior.
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4. unpredictable, erratic, or unreliable; -- of machinery, especially electronic devices. “a flaky computer board.”
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Flam (flăm), n. [Cf. AS. , , flight. √84 . Cf. .] A freak or whim; also, a falsehood; a lie; an illusory pretext; deception; delusion. [Obs.]
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A perpetual abuse and flam upon posterity. South.
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Flam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flamming.] To deceive with a falsehood. [Obs.]
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God is not to be flammed off with lies. South.
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Flambé (?), a. [F., p.p. of flamber to singe, pass (a thing) through flame. Cf. .] 1. (Ceramics) Decorated by glaze splashed or irregularly spread upon the surface, or apparently applied at the top and allowed to run down the sides; -- said of pieces of Chinese porcelain.
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2. a. [F., p.p. of flamber to singe, pass (a thing) through flame.] (Cooking) dipped in or covered with a flammable liqueur and set afire when served; -- usually used postpositively.
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Flambeau (?); n.; pl. Flambeaux (#) or Flambeaus (#). [F., fr. OF. flambe flame, for flamble, from L. flammula a little flame, dim. of flamma flame. See .] A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently, perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.
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Flamboyant (?), a. [F.] (Arch.) Characterized by waving or flamelike curves, as in the tracery of windows, etc.; -- said of the later (15th century) French Gothic style.
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Flamboyer (?), n. [F. flamboyer to be bright.] (Bot.) A name given in the East and West Indies to certain trees with brilliant blossoms, probably species of Cæsalpinia.
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Flame (flām), n. [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F. flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. See , and cf. , .] 1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
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2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger. “In a flame of zeal severe.” Milton.
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Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow. Pope.
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Smit with the love of sister arts we came,
And met congenial, mingling flame with flame. Pope.
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3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.
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4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.

Syn. -- Blaze; brightness; ardor. See .
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Coloq. Flame bridge , a bridge wall. See , n., 5. -- Coloq. Flame color , brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson. -- Coloq. Flame engine , an early name for the gas engine. -- Coloq. Flame manometer , an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See . -- Coloq. Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as, sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson, boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under . -- Coloq. Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of Australia.
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Flame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.] [OE. flamen, flaumben, F. flamber, OF. also, flamer. See , n.] 1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze.
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The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. Shak.
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2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor.
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He flamed with indignation. Macaulay.
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Flame, v. t. To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
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And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly. Spenser.
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Flame-colored (?), a. Of the color of flame; of a bright orange yellow color. Shak.
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flamefish n. a bright red perchlike fish (Apogon maculatus) found in tropical Atlantic coastal waters.
Syn. -- Apogon maculatus.
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flameflower, flame flower n. 1. a plant of the genus Kniphofia having long grasslike leaves and tall scapes of red or yellow drooping flowers.
Syn. -- kniphofia, tritoma.
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2. plant of the Southwestern U. S. with fleshy roots and erect stems with narrow succulent leaves and one reddish-orange flower in each upper leaf axil. Its fleshy roots were once cooked by Indians.
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Flameless, a. Destitute of flame. Sandys.
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Flamelet (?), n. [Flame + -let.] A small flame.
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The flamelets gleamed and flickered. Longfellow.
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Flamen (?), n.; pl. E. Flammens (#), L. Flamines (#). [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A priest devoted to the service of a particular god, from whom he received a distinguishing epithet. The most honored were those of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus, called respectively Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis.
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Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. Milton.
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flamenco n. 1. a strongly rhythmic and vigorous style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian gypsies, characterized by clapping and stamping of feet.
Syn. -- gypsy dancing.
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2. (Mus.) a strongly rhythmic style of music originating in southern Spain, often improvisatorial, performed by itself, often on a guitar, or as an accompaniment to flamenco dancing.
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flameproof adj. not susceptible to burning; noncombustible; fireproof; -- of artifacts. Opposite of combustible.
Syn. -- flame-retardant.
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flamethrower n. (Mil.) a weapon that squirts ignited liquid or gelatinous fuel for several yards.
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Flamineous (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen; flaminical.
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Flaming (?), a. 1. Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.
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2. Of the color of flame; high-colored; brilliant; dazzling. “In flaming yellow bright.” Prior.
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3. Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as, a flaming proclomation or harangue.
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Flamingly, adv. In a flaming manner.
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Flamingo (?), n.; pl. Flamingoes (#). [Sp. flamenco, cf. Pg. flamingo, Prov. flammant, F. flamant; prop. a p. pr. meaning flaming. So called in allusion to its color. See .] (Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus Phœnicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.
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Flaminical (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen. Milton.
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Flammability (?), n. The quality of being flammable; inflammability. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Flammable (?), a. Inflammable. [Obs.]
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Flammation (?), n. The act of setting in a flame or blaze. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.
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Flammeous (?), a. [L. flammeus from flamma flame.] Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, flame. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Flammiferous (?), a. [L. flammifer; flamma flame + ferre to bear.] Producing flame.
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Flammivomous (?), a. [L. flammivomus; flamma flame + vomere to vomit.] Vomiting flames, as a volcano. W. Thompson. (1745).
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Flammulated (?), a. [L. flammula little flame, dim. fr. flamma flame.] Of a reddish color.
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Flamy (?), a. [From .] Flaming; blazing; flamelike; flame-colored; composed of flame. Pope.
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Flanch (?), n.; pl. Flanches (#). [Prov. E., a projection, OF. flanche flank. See .] 1. A flange. [R.]. (Her.) A bearing consisting of a segment of a circle encroaching on the field from the side.
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☞ Flanches are always in pairs. A pair of flanches is considered one of the subordinaries.
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Flanched (?), a. (Her.) Having flanches; -- said of an escutcheon with those bearings.
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Flanconade (?), n. [F.] (Fencing) A thrust in the side.
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Flânerie (?), n. [F. flânerie. See .] Lit., strolling; sauntering; hence, aimlessness; idleness; as, intellectual flânerie.
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Flaneur (?), n. [F., fr. flâner to stroll.] One who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.
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Flang (?), n. A miner's two-pointed pick.
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Flange (flănj), n. [Prov. E. flange to project, flanch a projection. See , .] 1. An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see .); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc. Knight.
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2. A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe.
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Coloq. Blind flange , a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. -- Coloq. Flange joint , a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together. Knight. -- Coloq. Flange rail , a rail with a flange on one side, to keep wheels, etc. from running off. -- Coloq. Flange turning , the process of forming a flange on a wrought iron plate by bending and hammering it when hot.
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Flange, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanged (flănjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanging (flănjĭng).] (Mach.) To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.
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Flange, v. i. To be bent into a flange.
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Flanged (flănjd), a. Having a flange or flanges; as, a flanged wheel.
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Flank (flăṉk), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. , , .] 1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of .
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2. (Mil.) (a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.
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When to right and left the front Divided, and to either flank retired. Milton.

(b) (Fort.) That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of .
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3. (Arch.) The side of any building. Brands.
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4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.
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Coloq. Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear. -- Coloq. Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen. -- Coloq. Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front. -- Coloq. Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. -- Coloq. Flank files , the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc. -- Coloq. Flank march , a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank. -- Coloq. Flank movement , a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position. -- Coloq. Flanks of a frontier , salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion. -- Coloq. Flank patrol , detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.
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