Flank - Flat

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Flank (flăṉk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked (flăṉkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] [Cf. F. flanquer. See , n., and cf. , v. t.] 1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon.
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Stately colonnades are flanked with trees. Pitt.
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2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.
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Flank, v. i. 1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.
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2. To be posted on the side.
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Flanker (?), n. One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march, or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body.
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They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their assailants. W. Irwing.
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Flanker, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.] [See , v. t.] 1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
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2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.
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Flannel (flănnĕl), n. [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a mattress (?); fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E. wool. Cf. .] 1. A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak.
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2. a cotton fabric with a thick nap on one side, resembling flannel{1}; it is used, e. g. for underwear or sheets; also called flanellette.
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3. pl. garments made of flannel, especially underwear.
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4. a washcloth. [Brit.]
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5. humbug; nonsensical or evasive talk. [Brit. informal]
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6. insincere flattery or praise. [Brit. informal]
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Coloq. Adam's flannel . (Bot.) See under . -- Coloq. Canton flannel , Coloq. Cotton flannel . See Cotton flannel, under .
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flannelbush, flannelbush n. (Bot.) any of several handsome evergreen shrubs of California and Northern Mexico having downy lobed leaves and showy yellow flowers.
Syn. -- California beauty.
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flannelcake n. a flat cake of thin batter fried on both sides on a griddle; a pancake; a flapjack.
Syn. -- pancake, battercake, flapcake, flapjack, griddlecake, hotcake, hot cake.
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Flanneled (?), a. Covered or wrapped in flannel.
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flannelette n. a cotton imitation of flannel.
Syn. -- flannel{2}.
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Flannel flower. (Bot.) (a) The common mullein. (b) A Brazilian apocynaceous vine (Macrosiphonia longiflora) having woolly leaves. (c) An umbelliferous Australian flower (Actinotus helianthi), often erroneously thought to be composite. The involucre looks as if cut out of white flannel.
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Flannen (?), a. Made or consisting of flannel. [Obs.] “Flannen robes.” Dryden.
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Flap (?), n. [OE. flappe, flap, blow, bly-flap; cf. D. flap, and E. flap, v.] Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment.
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A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx. Sir T. Browne.
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2. A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
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3. The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.
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4. pl. (Far.) A disease in the lips of horses.
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5. (Aeronautics) a movable part of an airplane wing, used to increase lift or drag, especially when taking off or landing. used often in the plural.
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Coloq. Flap tile , a tile with a bent up portion, to turn a corner or catch a drip. -- Coloq. Flap valve (Mech.), a valve which opens and shuts upon one hinged side; a clack valve.
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Flap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flapping (?).] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. flappen, E. flap, n., flop, flippant, fillip.] 1. To beat with a flap; to strike.
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Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings. Pope.
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2. To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings; to let fall, as the brim of a hat.
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Coloq. To flap in the mouth , to taunt. [Obs.] W. Cartwright.
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Flap, v. i. 1. To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with wings beating the air.
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The crows flapped over by twos and threes. Lowell.
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2. To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing. Gay.
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Flapdragon (?), n. 1. A game in which the players catch raisins out burning brandy, and swallow them blazing. Johnson.
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2. The thing thus caught and eaten. Johnson.
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Cakes and ale, and flapdragons and mummer's plays, and all the happy sports of Christians night. C. Kingsley.
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Flapdragon, v. t. To swallow whole, as a flapdragon; to devour. [Obs.]
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See how the sea flapdragoned it. Shak.
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Flap-eared (?), a. Having broad, loose, dependent ears. Shak.
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Flapjack (?), n. 1. A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pacake.
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2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [Prov. Eng.]
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Flap-mouthed (?), a. Having broad, hangling lips. [R.] Shak.
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Flapper (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flaps.
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2. See . “The flapper of a porpoise.” Buckley.
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Coloq. Flapper skate (Zoöl.), a European skate (Raia intermedia).
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Flare (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaring.] [Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasa upp, and E. flash, or flacker.] 1. To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.
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2. To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
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3. To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy.
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With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head. Shak.
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4. To be exposed to too much light. [Obs.]
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Flaring in sunshine all the day. Prior.
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5. To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare.
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Coloq. To flare up , to become suddenly heated or excited; to burst into a passion. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
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Flare, n. 1. An unsteady, broad, offensive light.
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2. A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.
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3. (Photog.) A defect in a photographic objective such that an image of the stop, or diaphragm, appears as a fogged spot in the center of the developed negative.
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Flare, n. Leaf of lard. “Pig's flare.” Dunglison.
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flared adj. having a gradual increase in width; as, flared nostrils.
Syn. -- flaring.
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Flare-up (?), n. 1. A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]
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2. A sudden bursting into flame; a flaring.
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Flaring (?), a. 1. That flares; flaming or blazing unsteadily; shining out with a dazzling light.
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His [the sun's] flaring beams. Milton.
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2. Opening or speading outwards.
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Flaringly, adv. In a flaring manner.
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Flash (flăsh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed (flăsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.] 1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
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2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.
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Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles. Talfourd.
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The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. M. Arnold.
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A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act. Tennyson.
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3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.
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Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other. Shak.
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Coloq. flash in the pan , a failure or a poor performance, especially after a normal or auspicious start; also, a person whose initial performance appears augur success but who fails to achieve anything notable. From 4th , n., sense 3 -- part of a flintlock. Occasionally, the powder in the pan of a flintlock would flash without conveying the fire to the charge, and the ball would fail to be discharged. Thus, a good or even spectacular beginning that eventually achieves little came to be called a flash in the pan. -- Coloq. To flash in the pan , to fail of success, especially after a normal or auspicious start. [Colloq.] See under , a burst of light. Bartlett.
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Syn. -- , , , , . Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.
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Flash (flăsh), v. t. 1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.
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The chariot of paternal Deity,
Flashing thick flames. Milton.
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2. To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.
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3. (Glass Making) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See , n., 3 (b).
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4. To trick up in a showy manner.
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Limning and flashing it with various dyes. A. Brewer.
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5. [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash, splash.] To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash. [Obs.]
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He rudely flashed the waves about. Spenser.
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Coloq. Flashed glass . See , n., 3.
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Flash, n.; pl. Flashes (�). 1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
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2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
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The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shak.
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No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. Wirt.
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3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.
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The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.
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4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
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5. a lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.
Syn. -- flashbulb, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.
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6. Same as . [informal]
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7. (Journalism) A short news item providing recently received and usually preliminary information about an event that is considered important enough to interrupt normal broadcasting or other news delivery services; also called a news flash or bulletin.
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Coloq. Flash light , or Coloq. Flashing light , a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. Knight. -- Coloq. Flash in the pan , the flashing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.
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Flash, a. 1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
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2. Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry.
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Coloq. Flash house , a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. “A gang of footpads, reveling with their favorite beauties at a flash house.” Macaulay.
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Flash, n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
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Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.] 1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Haliwell.
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2. (Engineering) A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.
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Coloq. Flash wheel (Mech.), a paddle wheel made to revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted from the lower to the higher level.
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flashback n. 1. a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene; also, the scene thus introduced.
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2. An unusually vivid recollection of a prior experience, often one that is traumatic, such as scenes from combat or a criminal assault, or induced by hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD; when accompanied by hallucinations it is called flashback hallucinosis.
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flashbulb n. a lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph.
Syn. -- flash, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.
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Flashboard (?), n. A board placed temporarily upon a milldam, to raise the water in the pond above its usual level; a flushboard. [U.S.]
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Flash boiler. A variety of water-tube boiler, used chiefly in steam automobiles, consisting of a nest of strong tubes with very little water space, kept nearly red hot so that the water as it trickles drop by drop into the tubes is immediately flashed into steam and superheated.
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Flash burner. A gas burner with a device for lighting by an electric spark.
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Flasher (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flashes.
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2. A man of more appearance of wit than reality.
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3. (Zoöl.) (a) A large sparoid fish of the Atlantic coast and all tropical seas (Lobotes Surinamensis). (b) The European red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio); -- called also flusher.
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4. An exhibitionist{1}, especially a male, who briefly exposes his private parts in a public place.
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flash-frozen adj. preserved by freezing sufficiently rapidly to retain flavor and nutritional value; -- used of foods.
Syn. -- quick-frozen, frozen.
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flashgun n. a lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph.
Syn. -- flash, photoflash, flash lamp, flashbulb.
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Flashily (?), adv. In a flashy manner; with empty show.
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Flashiness, n. The quality of being flashy.
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Flashing, n. 1. (Engineering) The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of a body of water; -- called also flushing.
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2. (Arch.) Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing; also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate, shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred paper, or the like. Cf. .
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3. (Glass Making) (a) The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is rotated. (b) A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored glass. Knight.
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Coloq. Flashing point (Chem.), that degree of temperature at which a volatile oil gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to burn, or flash, on the approach of a flame, used as a test of the comparative safety of oils, esp. kerosene; a flashing point of 100° F. is regarded as a fairly safe standard. The burning point of the oil is usually from ten to thirty degree above the flashing point of its vapor. Usually called flash point.
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flashlight n. a portable battery-powered electric lamp, small enough to be held in one hand; -- it is most commonly cylindrical, but other forms are also made. It is called in Britain a torch
Syn. -- torch.
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Flash point (?), n. 1. the lowest temperature at which the vapors given off by a volatile liquid exposed to air will burst into flame when approached by a flame. Also called flashing point.
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2. That point in time or that degree of provocation at which someone will suddenly begin to act vigorously; -- often used in reference to angry reactions.
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Flashy (?), a. 1. Dazzling for a moment; making a momentary show of brilliancy; transitorily bright.
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A little flashy and transient pleasure. Barrow.
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2. Fiery; vehement; impetuous.
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A temper always flashy. Burke.
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3. Showy; gay; gaudy; as, a flashy dress.
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4. Without taste or spirit.
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Lean and flashy songs. Milton.
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Flask (?), n. [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr. �, �, �. Cf. , .] 1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of oil or wine.
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2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc.
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3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] Bailey.
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4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three part flask, four part flask, etc.
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Coloq. Erlenmeyer flask , a thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it. -- Coloq. Florence flask . [From Florence in Italy.] (a) Same as , n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions. -- Coloq. Pocket flask , a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.
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Flasket (?), n. [Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork, fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask.] 1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [Eng.]
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In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket. Spenser.
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2. A small flask.
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3. A vessel in which viands are served. [Obs.] Pope.
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flat-bottom flat-bottomed adj. 1. having a flat bottom. a flat-bottom boat
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Flat (flăt), a. [Compar. Flatter (flătrẽr); superl. Flattest (flăttĕst).] [Akin to Icel. flatr, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, OHG. flaz, and AS. flet floor, G. flötz stratum, layer.] 1. Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.
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Though sun and moon
Were in the flat sea sunk. Milton.
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2. Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.
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What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat! Milton.
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I feel . . . my hopes all flat. Milton.
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3. (Fine Arts) Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.
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A large part of the work is, to me, very flat. Coleridge.
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4. Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.
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5. Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.
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How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world. Shak.
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6. Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.
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7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.
Syn. -- flat-out.
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Flat burglary as ever was committed. Shak.
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A great tobacco taker too, -- that's flat. Marston.
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8. (Mus.) (a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat. (b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.
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9. (Phonetics) Sonant; vocal; -- applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.
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10. (Golf) Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft; -- said of a club.
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11. (Gram.) Not having an inflectional ending or sign, as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix, or an infinitive without the sign to. Many flat adverbs, as in run fast, buy cheap, are from AS. adverbs in -ë, the loss of this ending having made them like the adjectives. Some having forms in ly, such as exceeding, wonderful, true, are now archaic.
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12. (Hort.) Flattening at the ends; -- said of certain fruits.
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Coloq. Flat arch . (Arch.) See under , n., 2. (b). -- Coloq. Flat cap , cap paper, not folded. See under . -- Coloq. Flat chasing , in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a punching tool. Knight. -- Coloq. Flat chisel , a sculptor's chisel for smoothing. -- Coloq. Flat file , a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular section. See . -- Coloq. Flat nail , a small, sharp-pointed, wrought nail, with a flat, thin head, larger than a tack. Knight. -- Coloq. Flat paper , paper which has not been folded. -- Coloq. Flat rail , a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked to a longitudinal sleeper. -- Coloq. Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond. -- Coloq. Flat rope , a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket; sennit. Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made by sewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight. -- Coloq. Flat space . (Geom.) See Euclidian space. -- Coloq. Flat stitch , the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] -- Coloq. Flat tint (Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade. -- Coloq. To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in the intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.
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Of all who fell by saber or by shot,
Not one fell half so flat as Walter Scott. Lord Erskine.
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Flat (?), adv. 1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly.
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Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty. Herbert.
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2. (Stock Exchange) Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]
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