Part 204

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.