Part 194

Fledge"ling (?), n. A young bird just fledged.

Flee (fl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fled (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeing.] [OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleÛn (imperf. fle·h); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. flja (imperf. fli), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. ˛liuhan. √84. Cf. Flight.] To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.

cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.

Shak.

Flee fornication.

1 Cor. vi. 18.

So fled his enemies my warlike father.

Shak.

When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. "Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?" Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.

Fleece (fls), n. [OE. flees, AS. fleÛs; akin to D. flies, vlies .] 1. The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.

Who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece.

Milton.

2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.

3. (Manuf.) The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.

Fleece wool, wool shorn from the sheep. -- Golden fleece. See under Golden.

Fleece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleeced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing.] 1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.

2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.

Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced.

Fuller.

3. To spread over as with wool. [R.] Thomson.

Fleeced (?), a. 1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced. Spenser.

2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed.

Fleece"less (?), a. Without a fleece.

Flee"cer (?), n. One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or fraund. Prynne.

Flee"cy (?), a. Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. "Fleecy flocks." Prior.

Fleen (?), n. pl. Obs. pl. of Flea. Chaucer.

Fle"er (?), n. One who flees. Ld. Berners.

Fleer (?), [imp. & p. p. Fleered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering.] [OE. flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.] 1. To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout.