A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1438, 1500-1635
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Flichter, Flychter, v.1 Also: fleichter, flychtir, flyghter. [App. of imitative origin.]
1. Of birds: To flutter, to fly awkwardly. Also transf. of persons. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiv. 113.
He … suld a blak dou se Thar rycht faste flichterande ?1438 Alex. ii. 5104.
The poun fell doun flichterand fast 1513 Doug. v. ix. 33.
The fowle affrayt flychtris on hir weyngis 1513 Ib. viii. xi. 33.
The siluyr ganer, flyghterand with lowd scry 15.. Lichtoun Dreme 14 (B).
I flychterit [M. fleichterit] vp with ane feddrem of leid c1590 J. Stewart 8/23.
I may not flychter quhair the Phenix fleis 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xviii.
Ane fellon tryne [of birds] … Fast flichtren through the skise
2. To make fluttering movements or efforts. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 303.
Quhare mony ane thousand Comoun peple laye flichtrand in the fyre 1533 Boece xvii. viii. 633 b.
His bouelis tane forth and cassyn flichterand in the fyre 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 172.
My hart wes wo begone, To see that fowle flychter amang the flouris c1590 J. Stewart 85/204.
As feltert foule, … The moir scho flychters, scho the faster lyis 1635 Dickson Wks. I. 55.
If ye will stir and flichter like a bird in a cage
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"Flichter v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/flichter_v_1>
