Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FLUX'ION-A-RY, a.

Pertaining to mathematical fluxions.

FLUX'ION-IST, n.

One skilled in fluxions. Berkeley.

FLUX'IVE, a.

Flowing; wanting solidity. [Not used.] B. Jonson.

FLUX'URE, n.

A flowing or fluid matter. [Not used.] Drayton.

FLY, n. [Sax. fleoge; Sw. fluga; Dan. flue; G. fliege; D. vlieg; from the verb, fleogan, to fly.]

1. In zoology, a winged insect of various species, whose distinguishing characteristic is that the wings are transparent. By this flies are distinguished from beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, &c. Of flies, some have two wings and others four. – Encyc. In common language, fly is the house fly, of the genus Musca.
2. In mechanics, a cross with leaden weights at the ends, or a heavy wheel at right angles with the axis of a windlass, jack or the like. The use of this is, to regulate and equalize the motion in all parts of the revolution of the machine. – Encyc.
3. That part of a vane which points and shows which way the wind blows.
4. The extent of an ensign, flag or pendant from the staff to the end that flutters loose in the wind. – Mar. Dict.

FLY, v.i. [pret. flew; pp. flōwn. Sax. fleogan; G. fliegen; D. vliegen; Sw. flyga; Dan. flyver. In Saxon, the same verb signifies to fly and to flee; in German, different word are used.]

1. To move through air by the aid of wings, as fowls.
2. To pass or move in air, by the force of wind or other impulse; as, clouds and vapors fly before the wind. A ball flies from a cannon, an arrow from a bow.
3. To rise in air, as light substances, by means of a current of air, or by having less specific gravity than air, as smoke. Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job v.
4. To move or pass with velocity or celerity, either on land or water. He flew to the relief of his distressed friend. The ship flies upon the main.
5. To move rapidly, in any manner; as, a top flies about.
6. To pass away; to depart; with the idea of haste, swiftness or escape. The bird has flown.
7. To pass rapidly, as time. Swift fly the fleeting hours.
8. To part suddenly or with violence; to burst, as a bottle. Swift.
9. To spring by an elastic force.
10. To pass swiftly, as rumor or report.
11. To flee; to run away; to attempt to escape; to escape. I'll fly from shepherds, flocks, and flowery plains. – Pope.
12. To flutter; to vibrate or play; as a flag in the wind. To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to fall on suddenly. A hen flies at a dog or cat; a dog flies at a man. To fly in the face, to insult. #2. To assail; to resist; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition. To fly off, to separate or depart suddenly. #2. To revolt. To fly open, to open suddenly or with violence; as, the doors flew open. To fly out, to rush out; also, to burst into a passion. #2. To break out into license. #3. To start or issue with violence from any direction. To let fly, to discharge; to throw or drive with violence; as, to let fly a shower of darts. #2. In seamanship, to let go suddenly. Let fly the sheets.

FLY, v.t. [This is used for flee, and from is understood after fly, so that it can hardly be called a transitive verb.]

1. To shun; to avoid; to decline; as, to fly the sight of one we hate. That is, primarily, to flee from. Sleep flies the wretch. – Dryden.
2. To quit by flight.
3. To attack by a bird of prey. [Not used.] – Bacon.
4. To cause to float in the air.

FLY-BANE, n.

A plant called Catch-fly, of the genus Silene.

FLY-BIT-TEN, a.

Marked by the bite of flies. – Shak.

FLY-BLOW, n.

The egg of a fly.

FLY-BLOW, v.t.

To deposit an egg in any thing, as a fly; to taint with the eggs which produce maggots. Like a flyblown cake of tallow. – Swift.

FLY-BOAT, n.

A large flat-bottomed Dutch vessel, whose burden is from 600 to 1200 tons, with a stern remarkably high, resembling a Gothic turret, and very broad buttocks below. – Encyc.

FLY-CATCH-ER, n.

1. One that hunts flies.
2. In zoology, a genus of birds, the Muscicapa, with a bill flatted at the base, almost triangular, notched at the upper mandible, and beset with bristles. These birds are of the order of Passers, and the species are very numerous. – Encyc.

FLY-ER, n.

1. One that flies or flees; usually written flier.
2. One that uses wings.
3. The fly of a jack.
4. In architecture, stairs that do not wind, but are made of an oblong square figure, and whose fore and back sides are parallel to each other, and so are their ends. The second of these fliers stands parallel behind the first, the third behind the second, and so are said to fly off from one another. – Moxon.
5. A performer in Mexico, who flies round an elevated post.

FLY-FISH, v.i.

To angle with flies for bait.

FLY-FISH-ING, n.

Angling; the art or practice of angling for fish with flies, natural or artificial, for bait. – Walton.

FLY-FLAP, n.

Something to drive away flies. – Congreve.

FLY-HON-EY-SUCK-LE, n.

A plant, the Lonicera. The African fly-honeysuckle is the Halleria. – Fam. of Plants.

FLY-ING, ppr.

1. Moving in air by means of wings; passing rapidly; springing; bursting; avoiding.
2. adj. floating; waving; as, flying colors.
3. adj. Moving; light, and suited for prompt motion; as, a flying camp. Flying colors, a phrase expressing triumph.

FLY-ING-BRIDGE, n.

A bridge of pontoons; also, a bridge composed of two boats, or a platform on boats.

FLY-ING-FISH, n.

A small fish which flies by means of its pectoral fins. It is of the genus Exocœtus.

FLY-ING-PAR-TY, n.

In military affairs, a detachment of men employed to hover about an enemy.

FLY-ING-PIN-ION, n.

The part of a clock, having a fly or fan, by which it gathers air, and checks the rapidity of the clock's motion, when the weight descends in the striking part. – Encyc.

FLY'-SHOOT-ER, n.

One that shoots flies.

FLY-TRAP, n.

In botany, a species of sensitive plant, called Venus's Fly-trap, the Dionæa Muscipula; a plant that has the power of seizing insects that light on it. – Encyc.