Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FLANGE, n. [Qu. flank, or Fr. frange, fringe, or Gr. φαλαγξ.]

A raised or projecting edge or rib on the rim of a wheel, used in machinery, to keep the band from slipping off; used also on the wheels of cars to prevent them from running off the rails.

FLANK, n. [Fr. flanc; Sp. and Port. flanco; It. fianco; G. flanke; Sw. and Dan. flank; Gr. λαγων; probably connected with lank, W. llac, Eng. flag, Gr. λαγαρος, and so called from its laxity, or from breadth.]

1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. Hence,
2. The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion. To attack an enemy in flank, is to attack them on the side.
3. In fortification, that part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the opposite face, the flank and the curtain; or it is a line drawn from the extremity of the face toward the inside of the work. Harris. Encyc.

FLANK, v.i.

1. To border; to touch. Butler.
2. To be posted on the side.

FLANK, v.t. [Fr. flanquer. Sp. flanquear.]

1. To attack the side or flank of an army or body of troops; or to place troops so as to command or attack the flank.
2. To post so as to overlook or command on the side; as, to flank a passage. Dryden.
3. To secure or guard on the side; as, flanked with rocks. Dryden.
4. To turn the flank; to pass round the side.

FLANK'ED, pp.

Attacked on the side; covered or commanded on the flank.

FLANK'ER, n.

A fortification projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body. Knolles. Fairfax.

FLANK'ER, v.t.

1. To defend by lateral fortifications. Herbert.
2. To attack sideways. Evelyn.

FLANK'ER-ED, pp.

Attacked on the side; defended by lateral works.

FLANK'ER-ING, ppr.

Defending by lateral works; attacking sideways.

FLANK'ING, ppr.

Turning the flank; attacking on the side, or commanding on the flank.

FLAN'NEL, n. [Fr. flanelle; D. and Dan. flanel; G. flanell; W. gwlanen, from gwlan, wool, L. lana, Fr. laine, Ir. olann, Arm. gloan.]

A soft nappy woolen cloth of loose texture.

FLAN'NEL-ED, a.

Covered or wrapped in flannel.

FLAP, n. [G. lappen and klappe; D. lap or klap; Sw. klapp or lapp; Dan. klap or lap; Sax. læppa, a lap; W. llab, a stroke, a whipping; llabiaw, to slap; L. alapa, a slap. There is a numerous family of words in Lb, which spring from striking with something broad, or from a noun denoting something flat and broad. It seems difficult to separate flap from clap, slap, flabby, lap, &c.]

1. Any thing broad and limber that hangs loose, or is easily moved. A cartilaginous flap on the opening of the larynx. Brown. We say, the flap of a garment, the flap of the ear, the flap of a hat.
2. The motion of any thing broad and loose, or a stroke with it.
3. The flaps, a disease in the lips of horses. Farrier's Dict.

FLAP, v.i.

1. To move as wings, or as something broad or loose.
2. To fall, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing.

FLAP, v.t.

1. To beat with a flap. Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings. Pope.
2. To move something broad; as, to flap the wings.
3. To let fall, as the brim of a hat. [This sense seems to indicate a connection with lap.]

FLAP'DRAG-ON, n.

1. A play in which they catch raisins out of burning brandy, and, extinguishing them by closing the mouth, eat them.
2. The thing eaten. Johnson.

FLAP'DRAG-ON, v.t.

To swallow or devour. Shak.

FLAP'EAR-ED, a.

Having broad loose ears. Shak.

FLAP'JACK, n.

An apple-puff. Shak.

FLAP'MOUTH-ED, a.

Having loose hanging lips. Shak.

FLAP'PED, pp.

Struck with something broad; let down; having the brim fallen, as a flapped hat.

FLAP'PER, n.

One who flaps another. Chesterfield.

FLAP'PING, ppr.

Striking; beating; moving something broad; as, flapping wings. The ducks run flapping and fluttering. L'Estrange.

FLARE, v.i. [If this word is not contracted, it may be allied to clear, glare, glory, L. floreo, Eng. floor, the primary sense of which is to open, to spread, from parting, departing, or driving apart. But in Norm. flair is to blow, and possibly it may be from L. flo, or it may be contracted from G. flackern.]

1. To waver; to flutter; to burn with an unsteady light; as, the candle flares, that is, the light wanders from its natural course.
2. To flutter with splendid show; to be loose and waving as a showy thing. With ribbons pendant flaring 'bout her head. Shak.
3. To glitter with transient luster. But speech alone / Doth vanish like a flaring thing. Herbert.
4. To glitter with painful splendor. When the sun begins to fling / His flaring beams. Milton
5. To be exposed to too much light. I can not stay / Flaring in sunshine all the day. [Qu.] Prior.
6. To open or spread outward.

FLAR-ING, ppr. [or adj.]

1. Burning with a wavering light; fluttering; glittering; showy.
2. Opening; widening outward; as, a flaring fireplace.