/flaɪz/. Forms: fléoge (in combination fléog-, fléoh-), flýge, Northumbrian flége, Middle English fliȝe, southern vliȝe, Middle English fleoȝe, flye, southern vlie, Middle English fleȝe, southern vleȝe, fleih, southern vleih, Middle English–1600s, 1700s Scottish flie, Middle English– northern and Scottish flee, Middle English flegh, (Middle English fleeȝe, fleh, flei(ghe, fley(e, flij), Middle English–1600s flye, 1600s– fly.flyn.1
/flʌɪ/, U.S. /flaɪ//flaɪz/. Forms: fléoge (in combination fléog-, fléoh-), flýge, Northumbrian flége, Middle English fliȝe, southern vliȝe, Middle English fleoȝe, flye, southern vlie, Middle English fleȝe, southern vleȝe, fleih, southern vleih, Middle English–1600s, 1700s Scottish flie, Middle English– northern and Scottish flee, Middle English flegh, (Middle English fleeȝe, fleh, flei(ghe, fley(e, flij), Middle English–1600s flye, 1600s– fly. 1. † a. Any winged insect; as the bee, gnat, locust, moth, etc. Obsolete. Cf. senses 2 – 4 below, and butterfly n.
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > parts of insects > [noun] > wings(s) > winged insect
flyc950
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 24 Latuas blindo gie worðias ðone flege.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 136 He is ase þe smale uleȝe þet makeþ þet hony.
1563 T. Hill Arte Gardening (1593) 36 Flies (with the long hinder legges).
1599 T. Moufet (title) Silkewormes and their flies.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 86 The blacke Flyes called Beetles.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. viii. 113 Eating Flyes and wilde honey.
1694 Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) ii. 207 Here are divers sorts of Flies, as Butter-flies, Butchers-flies, Horse-flies.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VIII. 149 The cold weather frequently comes on before the worm is transformed into a fly.
b. A dipterous or two-winged insect, esp. of the family Muscidæ.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of
flyc1000
midget1815
dipter1828
midge1839
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > suborder Cyclorrhapha > family Muscidae > member of
flyc1000
muscid1869
c1000 Ælfric Exodus viii. 29 For ðe ic gebidde and ðeos fleoge færþ fram ðe.
c1200 Vices & Virtues (1888) 89 Al dai ðar cumeð to þohtes, al swo doð fliȝen to sare.
c1220 Bestiary 473 Til ðat ðer fleȝes faren and fallen ðer-inne.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) v. xxiii. 130 Bees and flyes haue no voys, but make a voys in fleenge.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5990 To-morn þe fleies sal be you fra.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 36v Theflye that setteth her vpon corrupt thinges.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid xii. Prol. 172 To knit hyr nettis..Tharwith to caucht the myghe and littill fle.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 203 The infinite swarmes of flies that do shine like glow-wormes.
1841 R. W. Emerson Prudence in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 228 Do what we can, summer will have its flies.
c. figurative.
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the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > [noun] > action of irritating > cause of irritation > one who or that which irritates
fly?c1225
terrer1382
prickc1384
taryerc1440
stub1531
provokera1542
a mote in the eye1546
annoying1566
nettler1611
gadfly1622
flea-biter1629
exasperator1632
badgerer?1791
irritator1855
needler1874
nagger1881
holy terror1883
knob1920
jerkface1942
needle artist1982
d-bag1984
knob-end1989
hater1996
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 214 Þe dogge of helle..wið his blodi fleȝen of stinkinde þochtes.
c1325 Coer de L. 2917 In whyt schetys they gunne hem wryen For the bytyng of his flyen.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. A2v The Fly is angrie, but hee wants a sting.
d. A type of something insignificant.
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the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 428 Wat was þy strengþe worþ?..ywys noȝt worþ a flye.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 272 Aleyn answerde, I counte hym noght a flye.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. ii. sig. A.vi Without which..al the spiritual comfort that any man maye speake of can neuer auaile a flye.
1794 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 751 I care na wealth a single flie.
a1830 W. Hazlitt Conversat. Authors He would not hurt a fly.
e. Phrases: like a fly in amber: see amber n.2 and adj. Phrases 1. a fly in the ointment [after Ecclesiastes x. 1] : some small or trifling circumstance which spoils the enjoyment of a thing, or detracts from its agreeableness. fly on the (coach-)wheel (see quot. 1870). to send away with a fly in one's ear: cf. flea n. 4 to break, crush, a fly upon the wheel (figurative): to spend a great deal of energy and labour upon something not worth it. let that fly stick in (or to) the wall (Scottish): say nothing more on that subject. don't let flies stick to your heels: be quick. (to) drink with the flies (Australian and New Zealand colloquial): see quot. 1943.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > send away or dismiss > unceremoniously
to send packingc1450
trussa1500
to go (send, etc.) away with a flea in one's ear1577
to set packing1577
pack1589
ship1594
to send away with a fly in one's ear1606
to give a packing penny to1609
to pack off1693
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
to send about one's business1728
trundle1794
to send to the right about (also rightabouts)1816
bundle1823
to give the bucket to1863
shake1872
to give (a person) the finger1874
to give (a person) the pushc1886
to give (someone or something) the chuck1888
to give (someone) the gate1918
to get the (big) bird1924
to tie a can to (or on)1926
to give (a person) (his or her) running shoes1938
to give (someone) the Lonsdale1958
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] > expend effort on something futile
to shoe the goose14..
to send (also carry, etc.) owls to Athens1548
to break, crush, a fly upon the wheel1606
to carry coals to Newcastlea1614
to bang (also run, bash, etc.) one's head against a brick wall1689
to preach to the converted1857
to be on a hiding to nothing1905
to chase one's tail1963
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)]
to hold one's tonguec897
to keep one's tonguec897
to be (hold oneself) stilla1000
to say littleOE
to hold one's mouthc1175
to shut (also close) one's mouthc1175
to keep (one's) silence?c1225
to hold (also have, keep) one's peacea1275
stillc1330
peacec1395
mum1440
to say neither buff nor baff1481
to keep (also play) mum1532
to charm the tonguec1540
to have (also set, keep) a hatch before the door1546
hush1548
to play (at) mumbudgeta1564
not to say buff to a wolf's shadow1590
to keep a still tongue in one's head1729
to sing small1738
to sew up1785
let that fly stick in (or to) the wall1814
to say (also know) neither buff nor stye1824
to choke back1844
mumchance1854
to keep one's trap shut1899
to choke up1907
to belt up1949
to keep (or stay) shtum1958
shtum1958
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > in a manner causing great harm [phrase] > small or trifling thing which spoils enjoyment
a fly in the ointment1836
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > moving swiftly in specific manner [phrase] > in or with haste > go in haste
don't let flies stick to your heels1836
the mind > emotion > pride > self-importance > [noun] > person
bug1536
bladder1579
God almighty1632
cockalorumc1796
his nibs1821
prima donna1834
fly on the (coach-)wheel1840
high muck-a-muck1856
nobs1877
high muckety-muck1882
muckamuck1883
Pooh Bah1886
prima ballerina1923
I AM1926
muckety-muck1927
Pooter1957
cheese1965
1606 True Relation Proc. at Arraignm. Late Traitors sig. Zz4v The princes..sent away your second Mercury with a flie in his eare.
1723 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth (ed. 3) 82 Flyes..that I have yet seen inclos'd in Amber.
1814 W. Scott Waverley III. xxiii. 355 O whisht, Colonel, for the love o' God! let that flee stick i' the wa'. View more context for this quotation
1824 T. De Quincey Incognito in Knight's Q. Mag. 3 143 To apply any more elaborate criticism to them, would be ‘to break a fly upon the wheel’.
1828 C. Lamb Poor Relations in Elia 2nd Ser. 148 A Poor Relation is—the most irrelevant thing in nature,—..a lion in your path,—a frog in your chamber,—a fly in your ointment.
1836 Going to Service iv. 44 Don't let flies stick to your heels, and don't let ten minutes get the start of you.
1840 E. Bulwer-Lytton Money v. iii I have the greatest respect..for the worthy and intelligent flies upon both sides the wheel.
1870 E. C. Brewer Dict. Phrase & Fable Fly on the coach wheel, one who fancies himself of mighty importance, but who is in reality of none at all.
1914 Scotsman 10 Sept. 9/1 The present situation is not without its ‘fly in the ointment’ for those motorists who have patriotically lent the assistance of their cars to the military authorities.
1928 Daily Express 11 May 10/7 The insurance of school fees has now become so general that it is as well to point out to parents that there is a rather large fly in the ointment.
1936 A. Huxley Olive Tree 5 There is only one fly in the ointment offered by commercial propagandists; they want your money.
1940 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Jan. 35/3 He never needs to buy whisky, either, though a natural antipathy to drinking with the flies saves the officer's supply.
1943 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang (ed. 3) 28 Drink with the flies: a drink consumed without the company of others. Also, to drink alone.
f. Proverbs.
ΚΠ
a1420 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 110 A flye folowethe the hony.
1528 J. Skelton Honorificatissimo: Replycacion agaynst Yong Scolers sig. Av The blynde eteth many a flye.
1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. ix. sig. Kiv Hungry flyes byte sore.
g. there are no flies on: (a) there is no lack of activity or astuteness in (a person); there is no fault to be found with, there are no blemishes in; (b) there is nothing dishonest or ‘shady’ about (a transaction). So to have no flies on, etc. slang (originally Australian or U.S.).The earliest examples indicate that the phrase was probably originally applied to cattle that are so active that flies do not settle on them.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [phrase]
as sound (also healthy, etc.) as a pippin1843
there are no flies on1848
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > sharpness, shrewdness, insight > achieve understanding [phrase]
to see, etc. through (also into) a (brick, mud, stone) wall1598
to read someone like an open book1827
there are no flies on1848
to get under the skin of1862
to get or have (someone or something) taped1914
1848 H. W. Haygarth Recoll. Bush Life Austral. ix. 101 ‘It's lucky we got them,’ said Amos; ‘there were “no flies” about that black bull.’ Note. This expression is very common in Australia... Anything particularly good is said by the class of men we are here describing to have ‘no flies’ about it.
1868 J. Diprose St. Clement Danes 99 To this celebrated pugilist [sc. Deaf Burke] is attributed the old story of the ‘flies in the gin-and-water’, and hence the term ‘no flies’ became prevalent. [The story follows.]
1888 Missouri Republ. 24 Feb. in J. S. Farmer Americanisms (1889) Persons who are capable of descending to New York and Boston English are fully justified in saying that there are no flies on St. Louis or the St. Louis delegation either.
1888 Detroit Free Press 25 Aug. (Farmer & Henley) There ain't no flies on him, signifies, that he is not quiet long enough for moss to grow on his heels, that he is wide awake.
1893 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley Slang III. 23/1 There are no flies on me, on him, etc.,..‘I am dealing honestly with you’; ‘he is genuine, and is not humbugging’. In America, the expression is used of (1) a man of quick parts..(2) a person of superior breeding or descent.
1897 R. M. Stuart In Simpkinsville i. 18 They wasn't no flies on his shape, nor his rig, nor his manners neither.
1898 Strand Mag. May 516 I kin put you in the way of making your pile, I kin. This is a bona-fide offer. No flies on my business.
1900 G. Bonner Hard-pan iii. 83 There are no flies on your little sister.
1928 J. Galsworthy Swan Song ii. vi. 156 There are no flies on your uncle.
1948 C. Day Lewis Otterbury Incident iv. 43 There are no flies on Rickie. I'm pretty sure he'd spotted how his own shoes got dirty.
1961 Observer 23 Apr. 18/2 There are no flies on Benaud. If England start bowling their overs slowly, no one will have to draw his attention to it.
h. like flies: in large numbers or huge quantities.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adverb]
manifoldlyeOE
thick971
a-storec1300
rifec1325
thickfolda1400
thicklyc1400
by, in heaps1523
amain1549
numerously1611
frequently1615
sight1836
multitudinously1839
like flies1934
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 ii. vi. 8 The common people swarme like summer flies.]
1934 A. Hyder Black-girl, White-lady xxi. 309 ‘Yo' kills niggers?’ ‘Like flies,’ Charley assured her.
1958 R. Liddell Morea iii. ii. 245 Now, at the end of 1955, people were marrying like flies; it is unlucky to marry in a leap year.
i. fly on the wall: (a) an unperceived observer; one who is able to overhear discussions, etc., without being observed or involved; (b) Cinematography a film-making technique in which events are presented realistically by observing rather than by directing the action; frequently attributive; cf. cinéma vérité n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > [noun] > hearer or listener > overhearer
overhearer1581
fly on the wall1949
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [noun] > thing or person > thing not seen
out of sight1874
fly on the wall1949
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > type of film > [adjective] > other types
costumed1851
foreign language1904
first run1910
Keystone1912
photodramatic1914
serial1915
coming of age1919
edge-of-your-seat1922
psychodramatic1927
omnibus1928
straight1936
low-budget1937
no-budget1937
screwball1937
Ealing1939
blockbusting1943
private eye1946
film noir1952
white telephone1952
portmanteau1953
uncut1953
anthology1955
three-D1955
Hammer1958
noir1958
co-production1959
kitchen sink1959
kidult1960
docudrama1961
cinéma vérité1963
maudit1963
filmi1965
indie1968
triple-X1969
XXX1969
drama-documentary1970
cheapie1973
gross-out1973
high concept1973
chopsocky1974
hard R1974
buddy movie1975
sci-fi1977
mondo1979
hack-and-slash1981
microbudget1981
hack-and-slay1982
slice-and-dice1982
fly on the wall1983
psychotronic1983
noirish1985
Mad Max1986
stoner1987
bonkbusting1993
straight to DVD1997
1949 N. Mitford Love in Cold Climate i. vi. 61 I had been throwing an occasional glance in their direction, wondering what it could all be about and wishing I could be a fly on the wall to hear them.
1971 A. Sampson New Anat. Brit. xii. 239 I spent a week inside the department, overhearing committees and meetings as a fly on the wall.
1983 Listener 10 Feb. 8/3 The ‘fly-on-the-wall’ technique, so successful elsewhere, would not overcome this problem.
1985 M. R. D. Meek Split Second vi. 38 ‘What did you wheedle out of Maggie?’ ‘Well..she was no fly on the wall, but there have to be letters, documents, papers to be typed.’
1986 City Limits 12 June 23 This is a film that has tried hard not to impinge its identity on its subject, using a fly on the wall approach.
2. With defining word as black-, blow-, flesh-, horse-, house-, sheep-fly, etc.: see those words. Hessian fly n. ( Cecidomyia destructor) an insect that infests wheat, said to have been introduced into America with the Hessian troops, during the War of Independence. Spanish fly n. = cantharides n. tsetse-fly n. ( Glossina morsitans) an African fly which carries disease (esp. sleeping sickness) and transmits it to humans and animals by biting.
ΚΠ
a1605 A. Montgomerie Flyting with Polwart 314 The feavers, the fearcie, with the speinȝie flees.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia Isagoge sig. C2v The pilularie beetle and spanish flies.
1799 G. Washington Let. in Writings (1893) XIV. 196 Letter relative to the loss of his crop, by the Hessian fly.
1812 J. Smyth Pract. of Customs ii. 51 Cantharides, commonly called Spanish flies.
1877 J. T. Baines Gold Regions S.E. Afr. 109 A considerable portion of this step is infested with the Tsetse fly.
3.
a. In farmers' and gardeners' language, often used without defining prefix for the insect parasite chiefly injurious to the particular crop or animal indicated by the context; the hop-fly, potato-fly, turnip-fly, sheep-fly, etc. Chiefly collective in singular as the name of the disease consisting in or caused by the ravages of these insects.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > [noun] > member of > defined by feeding or parasitism > parasite(s)
filtha1398
sciniphesa1500
ciniphesa1571
blain-worma1652
flya1704
stroller1705
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of > unspecified > parasite
flya1704
a1704 J. Locke Wks. (1714) III. 436 Before they come to think of the Fly in their Sheep, or the Tares in their Corn.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry 122 To prevent the Fly [in turnips] some propose to sow Ashes with the Seed.
1799 Trans. Soc. Arts 17 47 An easy and efficacious method of destroying the Fly on Hops.
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XIV Fly..a disease incident to sheep, in consequence of their being stricken by a fly, which produces a sort of maggot, that eats into, and remains in the flesh.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 460 The marks left on the skin by the blows of the fly.
1842 C. W. Johnson Farmer's Encycl. 490/1 Fly in turnips (Altica nemorum), the vulgar name of a species of flea-beetle, which attacks the turnip crop in the cotyledon, or seed leaf, as soon as it appears.
1888 Times 26 June 12/1 In some (hop) gardens a good deal of fly exists.
b. elliptical. The tsetse fly. South African.
ΚΠ
1856 C. J. Andersson Lake Ngami 488 The natives, who are well acquainted with localities frequented by the fly.
1864 J. T. Baines Explor. S.-W. Afr. [424] They have lost all their oxen by the fly.
1877 J. T. Baines Gold Regions S.E. Afr. 57 Keeping a sharp look out upon our own and each others horses to see that no ‘fly’ settled on them.
c. = fly-belt n., fly-country n. at Compounds 1a(b)).
ΚΠ
1868 J. Chapman Trav. Interior S. Afr. I. 163 At night, as the moon rose, we started to get through the fly, but, on entering it, our wagon struck against a large tree.
4. Angling. (a) An insect attached to a hook as a lure in the mode of angling called fly-fishing. (b) An artificial fly, i.e. a fish-hook dressed with feathers, silk, etc., so as to imitate some insect.Often collective in the phrase to fish with fly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > fly
fly1589
cast-fly1681
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > artificial fly
fly1589
1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet 3 I doo but yet angle with a silken flye, to see whether Martins will nibble.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 93 Or with a Flie, either a natural or an artificial Flie. View more context for this quotation
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 111 Your gold, or what materials soever you make your Fly of. View more context for this quotation
a1740 T. Tickell Epist. to Lady before Marriage 39 Here let me..lure the trout with well-dissembled flies.
1881 C. Gibbon Heart's Probl. x. 154 He..tossed it [fish] into his basket, and cast his fly again.
a. A familiar demon (from the notion that devils were accustomed to assume the form of flies). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > evil spirit or demon > [noun] > familiar or possessing spirit > in specific form
fly1584
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. xv. 65 A flie, otherwise called a diuell or familiar.
1612 B. Jonson Alchemist i. ii. sig. C A riflng Fly: none o' your great Familiars. View more context for this quotation
b. transferred, and with allusion to the insect's finding its way into the most private places: A spy (cf. French mouche). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > [noun] > a secret observer, spy
showerOE
spya1325
exploratorc1429
watch1484
inquisitor1580
scout1585
fly1622
otacust1632
evidence1691
lurcher1706
plant1812
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 241 There was this..Good in his employing of these Flies and Familiars; that..the..Suspition of them kept..many Conspiracies from beeing attempted.
a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) ii. iv. 32 He hath a Fly only to win good cloaths.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions ii. vii. 187 These mercenary Flies, whether of State, or of Religion, are justly hatefull.
Thesaurus »
c. A parasite, flatterer (cf. Latin musca). Obsolete.
6. Printing.
a. A ‘printer's devil’ (cf. 5a).
ΚΠ
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. Dict. 373 Devil,..the Workmen do Jocosely call them Devils; and sometimes Spirits, and sometimes Flies.
1841 W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing (at cited word) These boys are not now called devils, as in the time of Moxon, but Flies, or Fly Boys.
b. The person who takes the sheets from the press, the ‘taker-off’; also, that part of a printing machine which usually performs that office now. (Cf. flyer n.)
ΚΠ
1732 Grub-St. Jrnl. 26 Oct. in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 1240 The inferior order among us, called flies, employed in taking newspapers off the press.
1838 C. H. Timperley Printers' Man. 113 Fly, the person that takes off the sheet from the press in cases of expedition.
1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing 172/1 Fly, an invention for taking off or delivering the sheets from a power-press.
a. A ‘patch’ for the face. [translating French mouche.] ). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the face > [noun] > adorning with patches > ornamental patches or spots
spot1578
patch1592
beauty spot1647
fly1658
mouche1676
gunpowder spot1681
powder-spot1683
beauty patch1691
mouchet1699
coquette patch1705
1658 R. White tr. K. Digby Late Disc. Cure Wounds 102 The patches and flies which she put upon her face.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > other
dorlot1340
horn1340
vitremytec1386
templesc1430
bycocket1464
burlet1490
knapscall1498
shapion1504
shaffron1511
paste1527
attire1530
faille1530
muzzle1542
corneta1547
abacot1548
wase1548
wrapper1548
tiring1552
basket1555
bilimenta1556
Paris head1561
shadow1578
head-roll1583
mitre1585
whitehead1588
crispa1592
ship-tire1602
oreillet1603
scoffion1604
coif1617
aigrette1631
egreta1645
drail1647
topknotc1686
slop1688
Burgundy1701
bandore1708
fly-cap1753
capriole1756
lappet-head1761
fly1773
turban1776
pouf1788
knapscapa1802
chip1804
toque1817
bonnet1837
casquette1840
war bonnet1845
taj1851
pugree1859
kennel1896
roach1910
Deely bobber1982
1773 History of Lord Ainsworth I. 139 Her beautiful tresses were..fasten'd behind with a diamond comb; over which was plac'd a small French fly, ornamented with large sprigs set with brilliants.
1774 Westm. Mag. May 259 Ladies..still wear their hair low before..Small flys, the wings very wide apart at the top, and very small and short lappets.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > specific festivities > [noun] > festivity at college > specific at Oxford
flyc1602
mallard1633
encaenia1691
commemoration1750
commem.1888
c1602 in M. L. Lee Narcissus (1893) App. ii. 32 They [the cooks] have sett a little porch before so great an house, and have called their show the flye.
1654 E. Gayton Pleasant Notes Don Quixot iii. v. 99 The man that preaches the Cooks Sermon at Oxford, when that plump Society rides upon their Governours Horses to fetch in the Enemie, the Flie.
1661–6 A. Wood Hist. & Antiq. Univ. Oxf. (O.H.S.) II. 515 (note) Many people resorted here [i.e. to St. Bartholomew's Hospital]; as the cooks bringing in of the fly.
9. slang. A policeman. Cf. bluebottle n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman
truncheon officer1708
runner1735
horny1753
nibbing-cull1775
nabbing-cull1780
police officer1784
police constable1787
policeman1788
scout1789
nabman1792
nabber1795
pig1811
Bow-street officer1812
nab1813
peeler1816
split1819
grunter1823
robin redbreast1824
bulky1828
raw (or unboiled) lobster1829
Johnny Darm1830
polis1833
crusher1835
constable1839
police1839
agent1841
johndarm1843
blue boy1844
bobby1844
bluebottle1845
copper1846
blue1848
polisman1850
blue coat1851
Johnny1851
PC1851
spot1851
Jack1854
truncheonist1854
fly1857
greycoat1857
cop1859
Cossack1859
slop1859
scuffer1860
nailerc1863
worm1864
Robert1870
reeler1879
minion of the law1882
ginger pop1887
rozzer1888
nark1890
bull1893
grasshopper1893
truncheon-bearer1896
John1898
finger1899
flatty1899
mug1903
John Dunn1904
John Hop1905
gendarme1906
Johnny Hop1908
pavement pounder1908
buttons1911
flat-foot1913
pounder1919
Hop1923
bogy1925
shamus1925
heat1928
fuzz1929
law1929
narker1932
roach1932
jonnop1938
grass1939
roller1940
Babylon1943
walloper1945
cozzer1950
Old Bill1958
cowboy1959
monaych1961
cozzpot1962
policeperson1965
woolly1965
Fed1966
wolly1970
plod1971
roz1971
Smokey Bear1974
bear1975
beast1978
woodentop1981
Five-O1983
dibble1990
Bow-street runner-
1857 R. L. Snowden Magistrate's Assistant (ed. 3) 446 A policeman, a fly.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. Simple attributive.
(a)
fly-blight n. [translating German fliegenglas]
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > caused by insects
canker1555
grubbing1844
oyster shell scale1877
aphis-blight1882
big bud1884
blackfly1884
fly-blight1887
scale-blight1898
parasitization1909
1887 Daily News 28 June 2/5 The plantations in these districts being most affected by the ‘fly blight’.
fly-bottle n.
ΚΠ
1953 G. E. M. Anscombe tr. L. Wittgenstein Philos. Investig. §309 What is your aim in philosophy?—To shew the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.
1967 Philos. Q. XVII. 363 I would like an illustration of a flybottle, which people describe variously.
1969 Proc. Aristotelian Soc. 43 Suppl. 108 If the exit from the fly-bottle is an entry into too restrictive a cupboard, it seems necessary to find a way out of the cupboard as well.
fly-kind n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > [noun] > member of > defined by movement > that flies > collectively
fly-kind1691
1691 J. Ray Wisdom of God 6 The Fly-kind, if under that name we comprehend all other flying Insects.
fly-maggot n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of > unspecified > young
maggot?a1475
fly-blow1556
fly-maggot1692
fly state1791
1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 123 The Flie-Maggots.
fly-screen n.
ΚΠ
1903 Work 1 Aug. 412/3 Inside this lining will be laid a thin coating of tinfoil, on which will be placed what will look like a strong netting or fly-screen, except that the wires of which it is composed will be carefully joined and highly polished.
1952 ‘N. Shute’ Far Country 18 She went and rang the dinner bell outside the flyscreen door.
1971 Sunday Times (Johannesburg) 28 Mar. (Business section) 5/2 Adjustable aluminium louvres..may also be fitted with flyscreens.
fly state n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of > unspecified > young
maggot?a1475
fly-blow1556
fly-maggot1692
fly state1791
1791 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina 83 When they appear in the fly state.
(b) (In sense 2.)
fly-belt n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > region of the earth > zone or belt > [noun] > biogeographical zone > specific
moose yard1800
tsetse district1851
tsetse country1853
fly-country1864
Notogaea1868
floral zone1870
Ornithogaea1874
Nearctic1877
fly-belt1894
fertile crescent1914
alterne1916
Wallacea1928
pollen zone1929
1894 Westm. Gaz. 17 Nov. 5/1 The Beira line had now completely spanned the ‘fly’ belt.
fly-country n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > region of the earth > zone or belt > [noun] > biogeographical zone > specific
moose yard1800
tsetse district1851
tsetse country1853
fly-country1864
Notogaea1868
floral zone1870
Ornithogaea1874
Nearctic1877
fly-belt1894
fertile crescent1914
alterne1916
Wallacea1928
pollen zone1929
1864 J. T. Baines Explor. S.-W. Afr. iv. 68 Treachery of guides purposely sent by the chiefs to lead him into the fly country.
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 8 Dec. 1/3 When the railway..has crossed the fly country.
(c) (In sense 4.)
fly-tackle n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > [noun] > kind of
prick-tackle1463
ledger-tackle1653
fly-tackle1834
otter1834
bait-tackle1835
paternoster tackle1852
spinning-tackle1856
otter-line1862
traveller1864
skate1882
sea-ledger1887
otter1898
otter-board1901
ripper1925
salmon tackle-
1834 T. Medwin Angler in Wales II. 113 I was half sorry that I had no fly-tackle, and soon tired.
(d) (In sense 6b.)
fly-pulley n.
ΚΠ
1875 J. Southward Dict. Typogr. (ed. 2) 124 Let it run down the fly so that it is barely held by the fly pulleys.
b. Objective.
(a) (In sense 1b.)
(i) † fly-way-driver n. Obsolete
fly-breeder n.
ΚΠ
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle IV. cii. 131 ‘I never dispute..with the son of a cucumber,’ said the fly-breeder.
fly-fancier n.
ΚΠ
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle IV. cii. 131 The fly-fancier..accused the mathematician.
fly-hunter n.
ΚΠ
1895 C. C. Abbott Birds about Us iv. 113 They are fly-catchers, not fly-hunters.
fly-killer n.
ΚΠ
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 951 He was afterwards called by the name of Muscarius or Fly-killer.
fly-scarer n.
ΚΠ
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 68 On the left hand, Rajea Bousing fly-skarer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > deity > classical deity > [noun] > Jupiter
Jupiterc1275
Jovec1374
thundererc1374
altitonant?1578
lightener1598
thunder-darter1605
thunder-bearer1608
Saturnian1611
fulminator1613
thunder-mastera1616
fly-way-driver1658
Jupiter Pluvius1864
1658 J. Rowland tr. T. Moffett Theater of Insects in Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) 951 Jupiter, called ἀπομύιος, or the Fly-way-driver.
fly-whipper n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1872 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia (new ed.) viii. 134 The long tails of the giraffes are admirable fly-whippers.
(ii)
fly-catching n. and adj.
ΚΠ
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi iv. ii. iv. 180/2 A certain soaring and serious Greatness of Soul, which rendred Fly-catching too low a Business for him.
1890 Webster's Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Fly-catching (Zoöl.), having the habit of catching insects on the wing.
fly-hunting n.
ΚΠ
1838 C. Dickens Mem. Grimaldi I. ii. 41 He had been fly-hunting with his friend.
(iii)
fly-proof adj.
ΚΠ
1817 Niles' Reg. 12 284/1 I found several of the other kinds of wheat..growing on some farms in the same field with the fly-proof or Lawler wheat.
1944 Living off Land: Man. Bushcraft ii. 34 Keep the smokehouse fly-proof by covering the top.
(b) (In sense 4.).
(i)
fly-caster n.
ΚΠ
1897 Outing 30 221/2 It is not every fly-caster who can properly manipulate a live or dead minnow, a crawfish, or a spoon.
1926 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 9 July 16/1 Earl C. McFarland..nationally known fly~caster and sportsman, died..today.
fly-maker n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > using fly > making fly > one who makes flies
fly-maker1787
fly-tier1881
1787 T. Best Conc. Treat. Angling (ed. 2) 77 Every man his own fly-maker.
fly-taker n.
ΚΠ
1889 Cent. Dict. Fly-taker, in angling, any fish that will take the fly.
(ii)
fly-dressing n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > using fly > making fly
fly-making1653
dubbing1676
tie-back1880
fly-dressing1886
fly-tying1887
1886 J. H. Keene Fishing Tackle 202 There is no royal road to fly-dressing however.
fly-making n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > using fly > making fly
fly-making1653
dubbing1676
tie-back1880
fly-dressing1886
fly-tying1887
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 113 The Art of flie-making . View more context for this quotation
1801–3 W. B. Daniel Rural Sports II. 296 Hackles are a very important article in Fly-making.
(iii)
fly-taking adj.
ΚΠ
1840 S. R. Tickell in Jrnl. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 9 ii. 705 The little fly-taking Cyprinus, miscalled ‘trout’ in Upper India.
c. Instrumental.
(a) † fly-biting n. Obsolete
fly-angling n.
ΚΠ
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler iv. 110 These and the May-fly are the ground of all fly-Angling . View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 417 It is comparatively but a..meer fly-biting to what they undergo.
(b)
fly-bit adj.
ΚΠ
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 203 Their fly-bit hides.
fly-stuck adj.
ΚΠ
1877 J. T. Baines Gold Regions S.E. Afr. 151 A fly-stuck ox.
fly-swarmed adj.
ΚΠ
1879 E. Arnold Light of Asia 69 The fly-swarmed sweetmeat shops.
C2.
a. Special combinations. Also fly-bane n., fly-bitten adj., fly-blow v., fly-blown adj., flycatcher n., fly-fish v., etc.† fly-cap n. Obsolete a kind of head-dress (see quot. 1762). † fly-fringe n. Obsolete (see quot.).
fly-bat n. a species of fly found in Barbados.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of > unspecified > of Barbados
fly-bat1750
1750 G. Hughes Nat. Hist. Barbados 211 The Fly-bats come from their lurking holes.
fly-bird n. a hummingbird (cf. French oiseau-mouche).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Apodiformes > [noun] > family Trochilidae (humming-bird)
hummer1606
hum-bird1634
hummingbird1637
trochilus1752
bee-bird1771
honeysucker1773
fly-bird1782
coquette1854
satellite1857
1782–3 W. F. Martyn Geogr. Mag. 2 468 The fly-bird is esteemed one of the most beautiful.
1842 T. Hood Elm Tree iii. xxiii The Fly-bird flutters up and down, To catch its tiny prey.
fly-blister n. a plaster made of Cantharides.
ΚΠ
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xvii. 167 A Venus with a fly-blister on her breast.
fly-book n. a case in the form of a book, in which anglers keep artificial flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > [noun] > container for fishing-tackle
book1760
fly-book1848
1848 C. Kingsley Yeast in Fraser's Mag. Sept. 299/1 I put it in the squire's Fly-book.
fly-brush n. a brush for driving away flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron iv. 38 As he wielded the fly-brush, he peeped out of one corner of his eye at the stranger's proceedings.
1841 G. Catlin Lett. N. Amer. Indians I. xvi. 113 [The Indian's] fly-brush, made of the buffalo's tail.
1888 J. L. Allen in Cent. Mag. Apr. 946 The abandoned fly-brush lay full across his face.
fly-cage n. a contrivance for catching flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies
flycatcher1708
fly-cage1838
flypaper1842
fly-trap1855
catch-'em-alive-oh1856
the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun] > trap for insects
flycatcher1708
bug trap?1765
flapper1796
fly-cage1838
flypaper1842
fly-trap1855
catch-'em-alive-oh1856
light trap1881
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxxvi. 286 A paper fly-cage dangled from the ceiling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > other
dorlot1340
horn1340
vitremytec1386
templesc1430
bycocket1464
burlet1490
knapscall1498
shapion1504
shaffron1511
paste1527
attire1530
faille1530
muzzle1542
corneta1547
abacot1548
wase1548
wrapper1548
tiring1552
basket1555
bilimenta1556
Paris head1561
shadow1578
head-roll1583
mitre1585
whitehead1588
crispa1592
ship-tire1602
oreillet1603
scoffion1604
coif1617
aigrette1631
egreta1645
drail1647
topknotc1686
slop1688
Burgundy1701
bandore1708
fly-cap1753
capriole1756
lappet-head1761
fly1773
turban1776
pouf1788
knapscapa1802
chip1804
toque1817
bonnet1837
casquette1840
war bonnet1845
taj1851
pugree1859
kennel1896
roach1910
Deely bobber1982
1753 Gentleman's Mag. 23 123/2 The ladies.. should not sacrifice the vigor of health..to a fly cap.
1762 London Chron. 16–18 Feb. 167/3 The Fly Cap..is fixed upon the forehead, forming the figure of an over-grown butterfly..with outstretched wings.
1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 78 With powdered hair and fly-caps and lappets.
fly-case n. the covering of an insect; spec. the anterior wing of beetles, elytron.
fly-dope n. North American a liniment used as a protection against flies.
ΚΠ
1897 Outing 30 377/1 The fly-dope, or preventive against the attacks of insects.
1903 S. E. White Forest ix. 106 Each and every man..heralds the particular merits of his own fly-dope.
fly-duster n. = fly-brush n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1860 Mercantile Marine Mag. 7 270 The kahili is made of black feathers, fastened on a pole, much resembling a fly-duster.
fly-eater n. an eater of flies, spec. any of several small Australian flycatchers of the genus Gerygone.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by eating habits > [noun] > carnivore > that feeds on insects
flycatcher1600
insect-feeder1835
insectivore1863
fly-eater1895
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > subfamily Acanthizinae > genus Gerygone
warbler1790
rainbird1817
riroriro1835
fly-eater1895
bush-warbler1898
bush canary1904
1895 W. O. Legge in Rep. Australasian Assoc. Adv. Sci. VI. 447 [The habits and habitats of the genus as] applied to Gerygone suggested the term Fly-eater, as distinguished from Fly-catcher.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 30 May 12/1 Starlings [are] great fly-eaters.
1930 W. de la Mare Desert Islands 212 Owl, kingfisher, robin, fly-eater.
1958 P. C. Morrison Austral. Bird Bk. 143 Brown warbler, flyeater, G[erygone] richmondii.
fly-fan n. a fly-flick, or a motor-driven fan for driving away flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1891 A. H. Keane tr. W. Junker Trav. in Afr. II. viii. 276 His hand also grasped, not a warlike assegai, but a peaceful fly-fan!
a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) I. xvii. 300 They went into a large restaurant with fly fans speeding.
fly-flick n. an instrument for killing or driving away flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1914 D. Fraser Winning Primitive People iv. 45 He carried nothing in his hand but a fly-flick.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > border or edging
purflec1400
edge1502
welt1506
welting1508
pink1512
guard1535
piccadill1607
love1613
edging1664
cheval de frise1753
fly-fringe1860
1860 F. W. Fairholt Costume in Eng. (ed. 2) (Gloss.) Fly-fringe, a peculiar edging for ladies' sleeves and dresses; much worn in the early part of the reign of George III.
fly-fungus n. (a) the fly-agaric, Amanita muscaria; (b) the house-fly fungus, Entomophthora muscæ.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > fungi > [noun] > other fungi
bolet1526
boletus1601
byssus1753
fly-fungus1822
turban-top1828
stilbid1846
empusa1856
Scotch bonnet1861
wolf's-milk1861
lizard's herb1866
fairy ring1870
Malta fungus1870
flowers of tan1882
mycorrhiza1886
fumago1887
milky cap1887
moss-gold1887
oomycete1889
razor strop fungus1893
club-fungusa1909
sulphur tuft1909
bolete1914
old man of the woods1972
the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > poisonous or harmful plants > harmful or parasitic fungi > [noun] > fungus causing disease in animals > fly-fungus
fly-fungus1822
fly-mould1908
1822 Mem. Wernerian Soc. Edinb. IV. 343 The plant commonly known by the name of the fly-fungus (from its property of destroying flies when steeped in milk), has made some noise of late on the Continent.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 780/1 Amanita muscaria, the fly fungus, formerly known as Agaricus muscarius.
1912 L. O. Howard House Fly ii. 64 With the common house fly fungus (Empusa muscae) a slight change in the amount of atmospheric moisture is sufficient to bring about germination.
1952 C. J. Alexopoulos Introd. Mycol. vii. 177 The most familiar of the Entomophthorales is Entomophthora muscae, commonly called the fly fungus.
fly-hook n. a hook baited with a fly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > hook > [noun] > hook baited with a fly
fly-hook1706
upright1878
tail-hook1888
1706 R. Howlett Anglers Sure Guide 88 A middle-siz'd Flie-Hook.
fly-line n. a line for fly-fishing.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > other types of line
ground-linea1450
ledger-line1653
gildert1681
kipping-linec1686
fly-line1706
night line1726
trout-line1789
train line1828
runner1835
salmon line1850
loop-line1859
stray-line1879
dandy-line1882
kelp line1884
cross-line1891
free line1913
flatline1950
multistrand1960
flatliner1984
1706 R. Howlett Anglers Sure Guide 97 The Flie-Line should be made very taper.
1854 C. D. Badham Prose Halieutics ii. 19 Neither fly-rods, fly-lines, reels..nor landing-net.
fly-mould n. = fly-fungus n. (b).
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the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > poisonous or harmful plants > harmful or parasitic fungi > [noun] > fungus causing disease in animals > fly-fungus
fly-fungus1822
fly-mould1908
1908 Westm. Gaz. 8 Aug. 16/3 Flies..may be seen..lying about in odd corners covered with a mouldy grey fur, which is called fly-mould.
fly-powder n. a powder used to kill flies.
ΚΠ
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 511 Fly powder, the black coloured powder obtained by the spontaneous oxidizement of metallic arsenic in the air.
fly-rod n. a rod for fly-fishing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > rod > [noun] > types of rod
pole1577
telescope pole1675
fly-rod1684
dopper1688
whipper1688
bag-rod1787
telescope rod1820
salmon rod1841
greenheart1869
spinning-rod1870
loop-rod1885
roach pole1892
trunk-rod1893
sea-rod1902
1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 149 The Line..for the Fly-Rod..must be stronger than the first.
1843 Atkinson in Zoologist 1 294 I tapped it with the end of my fly-rod.
fly-slicer n. slang (see quot.).
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society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier of specific force or unit > [noun]
spahi1562
legionnaire1595
strelitz1603
Croat1623
deli1667
Croatian1700
lancer1712
highlander1725
lambs1744
royals1762
light-bob1778
fly-slicer1785
Life Guardsman1785
royals?1795
Hottentot1796
yeoman1798
pandour1800
Faugh-a-Ballaghsc1811
forty-two man1816
kilty1842
Zouave1848
bumblerc1850
Inniskilliner1853
blue cap1857
turco1860
Zou-Zou1860
mudlark1878
king's man1883
Johnny1888
Piffer1892
evzone1897
horse gunner1897
dink1906
army ranger1910
grognard1912
Jock1914
chocolate soldier1915
Cook's tourist1915
dinkum1916
Anzaca1918
choc1917
ranger1942
Chindit1943
Desert Rat1944
Green Beret1949
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Fly slicers, life guard men, from their sitting on horse~back, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.
fly-snapper n. U.S. a name of certain fly-catching birds: (a) the genus Myiagra; (b) Phainopepla nitens.
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the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > non-arboreal (larks, etc.) > [noun] > family Ptilogonatidae > other types of
roller1752
phainopepla1858
fly-snapper1895
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > subfamily Monarchinae > genus Miagra
fly-snapper1895
leaden flycatcher1908
1895 C. C. Abbott Birds about Us ii. 75 Well..did the flysnapper only make believe to launch out after insects?
fly-speck n. (a) a stain produced by the excrement of an insect; also figurative; (b) a plant disease, esp. of apples and pears, caused by the fungus Leptothyrium pomi; also attributive.
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the world > plants > disease or injury > [adjective] > of or having fungal disease
rustyc1503
smutty1597
smutched1620
slaina1642
smutty1667
sooty1697
rusted1763
spurred1763
smutted1766
leaf spot1846
fly-speck1855
ergotized1860
tagged1892
mummied1893
mummified1895
conky1905
rhynchosporium1918
Alternaria1924
Sigatoka1925
pasmo1926
sclerotinia1926
oak wilt1942
silver-leaf1946
wildfire1971
the world > plants > disease or injury > [noun] > type of disease > fungal > associated with crop or food plants > fruit or fruit plants
leaf curl1850
fly-speck1855
vine-mildew1855
vine-fungus1857
leaf blister1858
blister1864
peach-blister1866
charbon1882
crown rot1888
melanose1888
plum pocket1888
peach leaf curl1890
brown rot1894
mummy1902
sooty blotch1909
rhubarb disease1911
spur blight1915
red core1936
sclerotinia1950
Sigatoka1958
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > [noun] > spotted condition > spot > made by fly
fly-spot1851
fly-speck1855
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Fly-speck.
1865 H. B. Stowe House & Home Papers 290 I would shut my eyes on fly-specks, and open them on the beauties of Nature.
1907 Westm. Gaz. 15 July 2/1 Even your Caesar Borgia is but a fly-speck in the infinite.
1909 R. A. Wason Happy Hawkins 113 Lookin' like a fly-speck on a new tablecloth.
1939 H. Wormald Dis. Fruits & Hops v. 103 Frequently associated with Sooty Blotch, but sometimes occurring alone, are groups of black, circular dots which from their size and appearance are known as Fly Specks.
1943 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang (ed. 3) 75 The speck, Tasmania. Also, ‘the Fly Speck’.
1952 E. Ramsden tr. E. Gram & H. Weber Plant Dis. 126/2 The fly speck fungus produces groups of round black dots on apples and sometimes on pears and plums.
1961 Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 44 304 The Micropeltaceae or ‘fly~speck’ fungi are treated by Prof. Batista as one of the seven families of the Microthyriales.
fly-specked adj. marked with fly-specks.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > [adjective] > spotted > by flies
fly-bitten1598
fly-specked1872
fly-speckled1881
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Roughing It iv. 43 Only one cruet left,..a stopperless, fly-specked, broken-necked thing.
1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 528/1 A fly-specked old engraving.
fly-speckled adj. = fly-specked adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > [adjective] > spotted > by flies
fly-bitten1598
fly-specked1872
fly-speckled1881
1881 M. Laffan in Macmillan's Mag. 44 388 Pictures, yellowed by turf smoke and well fly-speckled.
fly-spot n.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > [noun] > spotted condition > spot > made by fly
fly-spot1851
fly-speck1855
1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) v, in Writings I. 47 There are a thousand cracks and flaws and fly-spots upon everything about us.
1890 J. H. Steel Treat. Dis. Sheep x. 325 Even a dog is able to tell when sheep have been struck by the fly.
1937 A. Fraser Sheep Farming xv. 143 When the weather favours strike..the maggot fly may cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage.]
fly-strike n. a skin disease of sheep, caused by the maggots of blowflies, esp. those of the genera Lucilia and Calliphora.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of sheep > [noun] > other disorders of sheep
pocka1325
soughta1400
pox1530
mad1573
winter rot1577
snuffa1585
leaf1587
leaf-sickness1614
redwater1614
mentigo1706
tag1736
white water1743
hog pox1749
rickets1755
side-ill1776
resp1789
sheep-fag1789
thorter-ill1791
vanquish1792
smallpox1793
shell-sicknessc1794
sickness1794
grass-ill1795
rub1800
pine1804
pining1804
sheep-pock1804
stinking ill1807
water sickness1807
core1818
wryneck1819
tag-belt1826
tag-sore1828
kibe1830
agalaxia1894
agalactia1897
lupinosis1899
trembling1902
struck1903
black disease1906
scrapie1910
renguerra1917
pulpy kidney1927
dopiness1932
blowfly strike1933
body strike1934
sleepy sickness1937
swayback1938
twin lamb disease1945
tick pyaemia1946
fly-strike1950
maedi1952
nematodiriasis1957
visna1957
maedi-visna1972
visna-maedi1972
1950 H. G. Belschner Sheep Managem. & Dis. vi. 178 The treatment of fly-strike in sheep should be undertaken as soon as possible.
1965 C. R. W. Spedding Sheep Prod. viii. 210 When the eggs hatch, the maggots burrow under the skin and this is described as ‘fly strike’.
fly-struck adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of sheep > [adjective] > other disorders of sheep
belt1614
tagged1614
spearworty1736
paterish1794
pothery1799
moor-sick1811
poked1828
respy1856
fly-struck1922
1922 C. R. Edmonds Dis. Animals S. Afr. ii. 310 This trouble [sc. sheep blowfly] is usually designated as ‘fly-blown sheep’ or ‘fly-struck sheep’.
1934 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Apr. 28/1 A fresh paddock will work wonders even if the flock in it includes fly-struck sheep.
1950 H. G. Belschner Sheep Managem. & Dis. vi. 178 The only equipment necessary to dress a fly-struck sheep is a pair of shears, a suitable dressing, and a small horsehair brush.
fly-swat n. = swatter n.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1937 A. M. N. Lyons Tom, Dick & Harriet xxvi. 225 He carried a fly~swat..and flourished this..in a menacing manner.
fly-swatter n. = fly-swat n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1917 Blackwood's Mag. May 753/1 Fly-papers and fly-swatters proved illusive.
1937 Sunday Express 30 May 17/3 Then he took to ‘fly-swatters’ and things for protecting food from the fly menace.
fly-swish n. = fly-whisk n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1922 Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 462/1 An old fly-swish made of palm-leaves.
1927 World Dominion Oct. 318 His inevitable fly-swish under his arm.
1947 J. Stevenson-Hamilton Wild Life S. Afr. iv. 42 The trunk is indeed everything to the elephant..Furnished with a good large bunch of long grass it makes a better fly~swish than do most animals' own tails.
fly-tier n. (also fly-tyer) a maker of artificial flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > using fly > making fly > one who makes flies
fly-maker1787
fly-tier1881
1881 Echo 11 Apr. 3/6 The..cleverest fly-tier in England.
fly-time n. the time when flies are to be met with or are troublesome.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > member of > time when flies are troublesome
fly-time1706
1706 R. Howlett Anglers Sure Guide 86 This is their [sc. Fishes'] constant Course all Flie-time.
1757 J. Dyer Fleece i. 23 In teizing fly-time.
1805 T. M. Harris State of Ohio 179 [They are] called ‘Buffaloe beats’, because supposed to be occasioned by the resort of those animals thither in fly-time.
1860 O. W. Holmes Professor at Breakfast-table v. 150 Would you stand still in fly-time, or would you give a kick now and then?
1897 R. M. Stuart Simpkinsville iii. 93 During the long afternoons in fly-time, no woman..would leave her comfortable home.
fly-tip n.
fly-top n. a top-joint used for fly-fishing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > rod > [noun] > top part of rod
cropa1450
top1676
fly-top1706
tip1891
1706 R. Howlett Anglers Sure Guide 79 The Stock [of the Rod] bored no wider than to carry a Ground-top therein, or a Flie-top.
fly-tying n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > angling > using fly > making fly
fly-making1653
dubbing1676
tie-back1880
fly-dressing1886
fly-tying1887
1887 H. Cholmondeley-Pennell Mod. Impr. Fish. Tackle 23 This branch of fly-tying.
fly-water n. (a) an infusion or decoction of flies; (b) (see quot. 1855); (c) water suitable for fly-fishing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > decoction or infusion > [noun] > aqueous decoction or infusion > specific
barley waterc1320
oak-water?1523
hydrelaeon?1550
plantain-water1588
lily-water1599
napha water1600
cowslip-water1612
water of magnanimity1659
succory water1670
lime-water1682
onion-water1694
pennyroyal water1699
balm-water1712
forge-water1725
laurel-water1731
aqua mirabilis1736
tar-water1740
milk of lime1784
laurel-cherry water1787
fly-water1815
herb-water1886
1815 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. I. 306 I should have recommended..fly-water for disorders in the eyes.
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Fly-water, a solution of arsenic, or decoction of quassia-bark, for killing flies.
1904 W. M. Gallichan Fishing & Trav. Spain 59 There is some pretty fly water close to the railway-bridge.
fly-weevil n. U.S. the common grain-moth ( Gelechia cerealella) ( Cent. Dict.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Tineidae > tinea granella (grain-moth)
wolf1682
corn-moth1766
fly-weevil1789
grain-moth1842
wolf-moth1863
1789 L. Carter in Trans. Amer. Soc. 1 274 (title) Observations concerning the Fly-weevil that destroys the Wheat.
fly-weight n. Boxing a weight of 8 stone or less; a pugilist of such a weight; also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > boxer > of specific weight
welter1804
lightweight1817
middleweight1847
heavyweight1857
light middleweight1885
light-heavyweight1887
featherweight1889
light-heavy1892
light welterweight1892
welter weight1896
light welter1904
super heavyweight1907
middle1908
fly-weight1911
heavy1913
superheavy1917
cruiser-weight1920
light flyweight1922
cruiser1928
mini-flyweight1971
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > boxing > [noun] > weight > weight division
lightweight1817
bantam weight1884
light middleweight1885
featherweight1889
light-heavyweight1891
light-heavy1895
fly-weight1911
cruiser-weight1920
light flyweight1922
1911 Boxing 9 Sept. 454/3 Kleber reigns over the fly-wt championship.
1913 J. G. B. Lynch Compl. Amateur Boxer 234 Championships. Standard Weights. Fly Weight, 8 stone and under.
1914 J. G. B. Lynch Promin. Pugilists 158 He [sc. Jimmy Wilde] is far below the fly-weight limit.
1944 W. H. Auden For Time Being (1945) 12 A fly-weight hermit in a dream Of gardens.
1955 Times 12 May 4/3 They fell behind again when Gnr. Lloyd was beaten in one round by the opposing flyweight.
fly-whisk n. an instrument for driving away flies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > pest control > [noun] > device for catching flies > device for driving off flies
werela1390
flapc1440
fly-flapc1440
flapper1570
flip-flap1600
cow-tail1672
fly-flapper1749
chauri1777
fly-brush1838
fly-whisk1838
fly-duster1860
scare-fly1862
fly-whipper1872
fly-fan1891
fly-flick1914
fly-swatter1917
swatter1917
fly-swish1922
swatting1925
fly-swat1937
1838 E. W. Lane in tr. Thousand & One Nights (1839) I. iii. Notes 132 A kind of fly-whisk made of palm-leaves.
1930 E. Waugh Labels iii. 65 He lunged out with a spanner and rapped an old man on the knuckles who was trying to sell us a fly-whisk.
a1953 D. Thomas Under Milk Wood (1954) 52 Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard belches in a teeny hanky and chases the sunlight with a flywhisk.
1963 W. Soyinka Lion & Jewel 25 Fly~whisk and whisky.
fly-wing n. (a) the wing of a fly; (b) Bookbinding (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxi. 255 He settys not a fle-wyng Bi Syr Cesar full euen.
1924 Notes & Queries 147 398 The word ‘fly-wing’ means the lettering piece, made of very thin leather, which is stuck on the back of the volume.
fly-wire n. screening to exclude flies, esp. fly-wire door.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > screen > [noun] > other types of
speer1379
traverse1400
transom-lattice1689
blind1730
window blind1730
spire1768
Venetian window-blind1769
window shade1789
tatty1792
tat1810
Japanese screen1872
fusuma1880
curtain1895
mosquito door1929
tuku-tuku1936
fly-wire door1952
table screen1971
1952 ‘N. Shute’ Far Country v. 140 The house itself had deep verandas on two sides and fly~wire doors.
1969 Southerly 29 305 I..pushed open the fly-wire door then walked into the kitchen.
b. In various plant-names.
fly-agaric n. Agaricus muscarius = fly-bane n. 1(c).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > fungi > [noun] > agaricus fungi
champignon1578
mousserona1655
fairy mushroom1784
fly-agaric1788
Medusa's head1822
Armillaria1829
Clitocybe1836
fly-bane1863
fairies' table1878
muscat1887
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > plants yielding poison > plants yielding insecticide or used to repel insects > [noun]
fly-bane1597
bugbane1723
timbo1725
fly-agaric1788
rattleweed1793
cube1924
1788 J. Bolton Hist. Fungusses Halifax I. 27 Fly Agaric... The root is large, and bulb-shaped.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Fly-agaric.
fly-dod n. ragwort ( Senecio Jacobæa).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > ragwort
groundsela700
ragwortc1300
bunweeda1525
senecio1562
St. James's wort1578
rugwort1592
felon-weed1597
staggerwort1597
staverwort1597
yellow-weed1597
ragweed1610
swine's grassa1697
hogs madder1707
sea-ragwort1736
dog standard1767
Jacobaea1789
swinecress1803
benweed1823
fly-dod1826
mountain groundsel1830
cushag1843
fairies' horse1866
Oxford ragwort1884
1826 R. Wilbraham Attempt Gloss. Cheshire Fly-dod..is usually covered with a dusky yellow fly.
fly-flower n. (see quot. 1878).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids
satyrionOE
bollockwort?a1300
sanicle14..
bollock?a1425
martagon1548
orchis1559
dogstones1562
hare's-ballocks1562
stone1562
bollock grass1578
dog's cods1578
dog's cullions1578
double-leaf1578
fly-orchis1578
goat's cullions1578
goat's orchis1578
priest's pintle1578
twayblade1578
bee-orchis1597
bifoil1597
bird's nest1597
bird's orchis1597
butterfly orchis1597
fenny-stones1597
gelded satyrion1597
gnat satyrion1597
humble-bee orchis1597
lady's slipper1597
sweet ballocks1597
two-blade1605
cullions1611
bee-flower1626
fly-flower1640
man orchis1670
musk orchis1670
moccasin flower1680
gnat-flower1688
faham tea1728
Ophrys1754
green man orchis1762
Arethusa1764
honey flower1771
cypripedium1775
rattlesnake plantain1778
Venus's slipper1785
Adam and Eve1789
lizard orchis179.
epidendrum1791
Pogonia?1801
Vanda1801
cymbidium1815
Oncidium1822
putty-root1822
Noah's Ark1826
yellow moccasin1826
gongora1827
cattleya1828
green man1828
nervine1828
stanhopea1829
dove-flower1831
catasetum1836
Odontoglossum1836
Miltonia1837
letter plant1838
spread eagle1838
letter-leaf1839
swan-plant1841
orchid1843
disa1844
masdevallia1845
Phalaenopsis1846
faham1850
Indian crocus1850
moccasin plant1850
pleione1851
dove orchis1852
nerve root1854
Holy Ghost flower1862
basket-plant1865
lizard's tongue1866
mousetail1866
Sobralia1866
swan-neck1866
swanwort1866
Indian shoe1876
odontoglot1879
wreathewort1879
moth orchid1880
rattlesnake orchid1881
dendrobe1882
dove-plant1882
Madeira orchis1882
man orchis1882
swan-flower1884
slipper-orchid1885
slipper orchis1889
mayflower1894
scorpion orchid1897
moederkappie1910
dove orchid1918
monkey orchid1925
man orchid1927
1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum 1351 Orchis Myodes minor, the lesser Flye flower.
1878 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Fly Flowers, (1) All species of Orchis except O. mascula—Glou... (2) Prunella vulgaris—Glou.
fly-honeysuckle n. (a) a variety of honeysuckle ( Lonicera Xylosteum); (b) a species of Halleria.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > climbing, trailing, or creeping shrubs > [noun] > honeysuckle or woodbine
honeysuckOE
goat leafa1275
woodbinea1300
honeysucklea1400
suckle-bloom14..
bindc1440
goat's leaf1526
caprifoil1578
suckling1653
trumpet honeysuckle1731
white honeysuckle1731
dwarf honeysuckle1812
suckle1816
twinflower1836
fly-honeysuckle1861
linnaea1862
lonicera1863
swamp honeysuckle1958
1788 Chambers's Cycl. (new ed.) Halleria..is called by some gardeners the African fly-honeysuckle, from its resemblance to the upright or fly-honeysuckle.
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XIV Fly-honeysuckle.
1861 P. Lankester Wild Flowers 71 Lonicera Xylosteum, the Fly or Upright Honey-suckle.
1890 Chambers's Encycl. V. 763 The Fly Honeysuckle, Lonicera Xylosteum, is an erect shrub..common in shrubberies.
fly-orchid n.
fly-orchis n. a name for Ophrys muscifera.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > orchids
satyrionOE
bollockwort?a1300
sanicle14..
bollock?a1425
martagon1548
orchis1559
dogstones1562
hare's-ballocks1562
stone1562
bollock grass1578
dog's cods1578
dog's cullions1578
double-leaf1578
fly-orchis1578
goat's cullions1578
goat's orchis1578
priest's pintle1578
twayblade1578
bee-orchis1597
bifoil1597
bird's nest1597
bird's orchis1597
butterfly orchis1597
fenny-stones1597
gelded satyrion1597
gnat satyrion1597
humble-bee orchis1597
lady's slipper1597
sweet ballocks1597
two-blade1605
cullions1611
bee-flower1626
fly-flower1640
man orchis1670
musk orchis1670
moccasin flower1680
gnat-flower1688
faham tea1728
Ophrys1754
green man orchis1762
Arethusa1764
honey flower1771
cypripedium1775
rattlesnake plantain1778
Venus's slipper1785
Adam and Eve1789
lizard orchis179.
epidendrum1791
Pogonia?1801
Vanda1801
cymbidium1815
Oncidium1822
putty-root1822
Noah's Ark1826
yellow moccasin1826
gongora1827
cattleya1828
green man1828
nervine1828
stanhopea1829
dove-flower1831
catasetum1836
Odontoglossum1836
Miltonia1837
letter plant1838
spread eagle1838
letter-leaf1839
swan-plant1841
orchid1843
disa1844
masdevallia1845
Phalaenopsis1846
faham1850
Indian crocus1850
moccasin plant1850
pleione1851
dove orchis1852
nerve root1854
Holy Ghost flower1862
basket-plant1865
lizard's tongue1866
mousetail1866
Sobralia1866
swan-neck1866
swanwort1866
Indian shoe1876
odontoglot1879
wreathewort1879
moth orchid1880
rattlesnake orchid1881
dendrobe1882
dove-plant1882
Madeira orchis1882
man orchis1882
swan-flower1884
slipper-orchid1885
slipper orchis1889
mayflower1894
scorpion orchid1897
moederkappie1910
dove orchid1918
monkey orchid1925
man orchid1927
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball ii. lvi. 222 We may call it in English properly flie Orchis, bycause al the kindes of Serapias Orchis, haue in all their floures the..likenesse of one kinde of flie or other.
1841 S. Maunder Sci. & Lit. Treasury Fly-orchis, in botany, the Orchis muscifera.
fly-poison n. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Liliaceae family or plants > [noun] > other plants
one-blade1578
one-leaf1578
spiderwort1597
star of Bethlehem1629
ague-grass1687
unifoil1688
redroot1709
bellwort1785
eucomisc1804
uvularia1836
paintroot1853
twisted stalk1856
Barbados onion1866
fly-poison1866
shepherd's joy1884
onion weed1909
mondo1956
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Fly-poison, Amianthium muscætoxicum.
fly-wort n. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > names applied to various flowers
heliotropec1000
flower jaunette1423
helichrysum1551
sunflower1562
Armeria1578
hyacinth1578
pimpernel1578
vaccin1589
heliochryse1593
purple1604
sunflower1622
mayflower1626
starflower1629
bluebottle1648
pink1731
trumpet-flower1732
fly-wort1753
witches' thimbles1820
honey plant1824
black-eyed Susan1836
shell-flower1845
pincushion1847
pincushion flower1856
nightingale1862
garland-flower1866
paper-white1880
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. App. Fly-wort, in botany, a name by which some call the lychnis of authors.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Fly-wort, a name applied to those species of Catasetum formerly called Myanthus.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
flyn.2
/flʌɪ/, U.S. /flaɪ/ I. The action of flying.
1.
a. †The action or manner of flying, flight (obsolete). In later use also: an act of flying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [noun] > flying (as) with wings
flighta900
flyOE
aflightc1225
volitation1646
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > [noun] > flying (as) with wings > an act of
flyc1650
OE Cynewulf Crist II 645 Swa se fæla fugel flyges cunnode.
OE Christ & Satan 111 Ic sceal on flyge and on flyhte ðragum earda neosan.
c1425 Fest. Ch. xxx, in Leg. Rood (1871) 221 Þe Egle is frikest fowle in flye.
c1650 Earl Westmorland in Furniv. Percy Folio I. 300 On Bramaball more shee caused my flye.
1786 Ld. Nelson in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) I. 178 Indignity offered under the fly of his Flag.
1828 B. Disraeli Infernal Marriage iii. iii, in Novels (1881) 345 'Twas an easy fly; the chariot [a car borne by owls] soon descended upon the crest of a hill.
1887 Sporting Life (Philadelphia) 22 June 2/6 A two miles pigeon fly.
b. A flying visit. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > social event > visit > [noun] > short or casual
look-in1653
vis1754
pop visit1767
drop-in1819
fly1833
pop call1857
pop-in visit1887
1833 J. W. Carlyle Let. 28 July We have had..no other visitors except..my mother..for a fly.
c. slang. A trick, dodge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception
wrenchc888
swikec893
braida1000
craftOE
wile1154
crookc1175
trokingc1175
guile?c1225
hocket1276
blink1303
errorc1320
guileryc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
deceitc1380
japec1380
gaudc1386
syllogism1387
mazec1390
mowa1393
train?a1400
trantc1400
abusionc1405
creekc1405
trickc1412
trayc1430
lirtc1440
quaint?a1450
touch1481
pawka1522
false point?1528
practice1533
crink1534
flim-flamc1538
bobc1540
fetcha1547
abuse1551
block1553
wrinklec1555
far-fetch?a1562
blirre1570
slampant1577
ruse1581
forgery1582
crank1588
plait1589
crossbite1591
cozenage1592
lock1598
quiblin1605
foist1607
junt1608
firk1611
overreach?1615
fob1622
ludification1623
knick-knacka1625
flam1632
dodge1638
gimcrack1639
fourbe1654
juggle1664
strategy1672
jilt1683
disingenuity1691
fun1699
jugglementa1708
spring1753
shavie1767
rig?1775
deception1794
Yorkshire bite1795
fakement1811
fake1829
practical1833
deceptivity1843
tread-behind1844
fly1861
schlenter1864
Sinonism1864
racket1869
have1885
ficelle1890
wheeze1903
fast one1912
roughie1914
spun-yarn trick1916
fastie1931
phoney baloney1933
fake-out1955
okey-doke1964
mind-fuck1971
1861 F. W. Robinson No Church I. ix. 192 Who's put you up to that fly?
d. A flying leap.
ΚΠ
1899 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ Some Experiences Irish R.M. 133 I had achieved a good-sized ‘fly’, and had not perceptibly moved in my saddle.
e. to give it (also him, etc.) a fly: to make an attempt, to have a go. Also: to have a fly at (1941 S. J. Baker, Dict. Austral. Slang 29). Australian.
ΚΠ
1919 W. H. Downing Digger Dial. 24 To give it a fly, to make an attempt.
1926 K. S. Prichard Working Bullocks xiv. 129 ‘They say you're going to race him at Blue Flowers, Red?’ ‘Might give him a fly,’ Red admitted.
1931 V. Palmer Separate Lives 114 Righto! I'm willing to give it a fly if that's settled.
1934 T. Wood Cobbers ii. 19 They come in for miles..to give it [sc. betting at trots] a fly.
f. Football. = fly-half n. at Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position
full back1875
goal kick1875
No. eight1876
goalkicker1879
three-quarter back1880
handler1888
three-quarter1889
heeler1892
scrum half1894
lock forward1898
standoff1902
five-eighth1905
hooker1905
threes1905
flying half1906
loose head1907
standoff1908
fly-half1918
fly1921
inside half1921
outside half1921
scrum1921
inside centre1936
flank forward1937
out-half1949
prop1950
prop forward1951
number eight1952
flanker1953
tight head1959
back-rower1969
second rower1969
striker1973
packman1992
1921 J. C. Jenkins in E. H. D. Sewell Rugby Football up to Date ix. 195 L. A. Phillips was a combination half, who was really equally at home as scrum or fly.
2. on the fly: (originally) on the wing, flying; (hence) in motion, moving up and down.
a. gen. Also slang = ‘on the spree’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > in motion [phrase] > while in motion
on the fly1851
society > leisure > social event > a merrymaking or convivial occasion > merrymaking or conviviality > [adverb] > noisy or riotous
roistingly1571
on (also upon) the randan1652
roisteringly1659
tory-rory1665
on (also upon) the spree1847
on a spree1847
on (or upon) the loose1849
on the fly1851
on the (also a) randy1857
on the tiles1887
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 51/2 Taking them on the fly; which means meeting the gentry on their walks, and beseeching or at times menacing them till something is given.
1855 J. D. Burn Autobiogr. Beggar Boy i. 6 My father had been on the fly in that town for nine or ten days.
1868 Temple Bar 24 538 I prigged an old woman's poke on the fly.
1892 Nation (N.Y.) 4 Aug. 91/3 To borrow the language of the sportsman, he may be said to have caught the Melanesian people ‘on the fly’.
b. Baseball and (U.S. only) Cricket: The course of a ball that has been struck, until it touches the ground. Also in Football and Hockey. foul fly (see quot. 18742).
ΚΠ
1856 Spirit of Times 8 Nov. 165/1 Several fine catches..made on the fly.
1868 H. Chadwick Game of Baseball 45 A running catch is made when the ball is caught on the fly while the fielder is on the run.
1872 O. W. Holmes Poet at Breakfast-table (1885) v. 119 Catching a ball on the fly.
1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 41 Ketchum..was caught on the fly.
1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 58 Any high foul ball, held on the fly, is called a foul fly.
1882 Philad. Press 12 Aug. 8 That usually reliable fielder muffed the fly.
1887 Dr. Irvine in G. A. Hutchison Football iii. 91 If he throws forward, his opponent may make his mark, if he manages to catch the ball on the fly.
1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby xiii. 173 One such run..led to Dawson putting a hefty boot to the ball on the fly.
1961 J. S. Salak Dict. Amer. Sports 226 Hitting on the fly (field hockey), hitting an oncoming ball without first stopping or fielding it.
II. Something that flies, in various senses.
3. A quick-travelling carriage.
a. ‘A stage-coach, distinguished by this name, in order to impress a belief of its extraordinary quickness in travelling’ (Johnson). Obsolete exc. Historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > public service vehicle > [noun] > stagecoach or mail coach
posting carriage1556
wagon1615
post-coach1636
stagecoach1658
flying coach1669
stage1671
wagon-coach1675
stage-wagon1681
post-car1694
post-wagon1694
post calash1703
fly1708
post-carriage1720
post-stage1738
diligence1742
flying machine1764
machine1769
mail coach1785
dilly1786
mail stage1792
high-flyer1799
post-equipage1813
post vehicle1815
tally-ho coach1831
mail packeta1837
flying carriage1849
stager1852
mail-hack1909
1708 Mem. John Hall 10 Fly, a Waggon, i.e. Country Cant.
1759 T. Gray Let. 28 May in Corr. (1971) II. 623 The parcel will come by one of the flys.
1774 E. Burke Corr. (1844) I. 449 A letter..sent on Tuesday night by the Grantham fly.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. i. 5 The Queensferry Diligence or Hawes Fly.
1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men I. iv. 386 He had travelled up from Northamptonshire in a fly.
b. The name of a light vehicle, introduced at Brighton in 1816, and originally drawn or pushed by men; but a horse being soon employed, the name was gradually extended to any one-horse covered carriage, as a cab or hansom, let out on hire. Perhaps short for fly-by-night n. Obsolete exc. Historical.Local usage of the word varied; in some places fly was confined to a ‘four-wheeler’; but it was generally applied to a vehicle hired from a livery-stable, and not plying for hire.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicle pushed or pulled by person > [noun] > carriage pushed or pulled by person
vinaigrette1698
kuruma1727
fly1818
jinrikisha1874
rickshaw1879
rick1889
push-push1907
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles (plying) for hire > [noun] > hired carriage
remise1698
job coach1748
voiturin1768
slap-bang coach1797
fly1818
fly-by-night1818
fly-coach1818
job1819
fly-wagon1826
horse-fly1826
1818 C. Wright Brighton Ambulator 170 A nouvelle kind of four-wheel vehicles, drawn by a man and an assistant, are very accommodating to visitors..They are denominated Flys.
1828 W. Scott Jrnl. 21 May (1941) 249 We then took a fly, as they call the light carriages, and drove as far as the Devil's Ditch.
1830 T. Hook Maxwell II. ii. 53 One of the Brighton boatmen..bid him [a boy] go and get a fly..he heard an additional direction..not to bring a horse-fly.
1839 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 114 A fly (a little chaise with one horse), furnished us from a livery-stable hard by.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby II. iv. ii. 14 Get a fly at the station.
1881 M. E. Herbert Edith 118 Soon after breakfast a fly at the door, to catch the 10.50 train.
4. Something attached by the edge. Cf. flap n. 4.
a. A strip or lap on a garment, to contain or cover the button-holes; hence something used to cover or connect (see quot. 1884). spec. (frequently in plural) the piece of cloth that hides the fastening at the front of a pair of trousers; also, the fastening itself.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering button holes
fly1844
fly-front1893
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > parts of > fastening > cloth covering
fall1796
fall-piece1837
fly1844
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > parts of > fastening
fly-button1895
split falls1939
trouser zip1940
fly1941
1844 Queen's Regulations & Orders Army 154 [Trousers] Open in front, with a Fly and Five Buttons.
1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 351/1 Fly, the fore flap of a bootee. A strip of leather which overwraps the front vamp and receives the strings or other fastening.
1941 I. Baird He rides Sky 234 A pair of tennis shorts with zipper fly.
1942 E. Paul Narrow Street i. 6 The professor..turned toward the pissoir, unbuttoning his fly en route.
1952 ‘Vigilans’ Chamber of Horrors 27 The words button one's fly are offensive only to the prurient.
1953 M. Dickens No More Meadows i. 49 Champ, your flies are undone again. That boy! He'll be arrested yet.
1959 R. Fuller Ruined Boys ii. viii. 128 ‘Your flies are undone,’ said Matley primly.
b. In a tent: ‘The sloping or roof part of the canvas’ (Yule); also, the flap at the entrance, forming a door.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > tent > [noun] > roof
fly1810
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > tent > [noun] > door
tent-door1535
fly1840
1810 T. Williamson E. India Vade-mecum II. 452 The main part of the operation of pitching the tent, consisting of raising the flies.
1840 E. E. Napier Scenes & Sports Foreign Lands II. iii. 55 The fly and white walls of our tent. (Note. The roof or top part of the tent).
1882 Cent. Mag. 25 195 Two or three Indians..peered through the fly, and then came in.
c. Of a flag: (a) The breadth from the staff to the end; (b) the part farthest from the staff.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > breadth of flag
fly1841
society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag > part furthest from mast
fly1841
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 105 Fly, that part of a flag which extends from the Union to the extreme end.
1863 C. Boutell Man. Heraldry xviii. 221 The Pennon was small in size, pointed or swallow-tailed at the Fly.
d. Theatre. In plural. The space over the proscenium, including the upper mechanism and the galleries on each side from which it is worked.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > stage > [noun] > parts above stage
shadow1600
fly1805
rigging loft1851
gridiron-floor1881
gridiron1886
fly-gallery1888
grid1927
1805 European Mag. 47 447 A large portion of scenery from the top (called the flies) fell upon the stage.
1859 S. Smiles Self-help (1860) v. 126 First working under the stage, then behind the flies, then upon the stage itself.
1887 Daily Tel. 27 May 3 Sparks fell from the flies upon the stage.
e. An addition to or insertion in a bill or act. U.S.
ΚΠ
1870 Congr. Globe 1 July 5062/1 This was put in as a ‘fly’ in the act of March 18, 1869.
5. In various technical uses.
a. Nautical. A compass card: see quot. 1610 and card n.2 5. Hence, on a terrestrial globe: The set of rhumbs drawn from a selected point on the surface (? obsolete). Also, on a vane: see quot. 1773.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > compass > card of
compass rosea1527
fly?a1560
card1561
sea-carda1625
chart1753
compass-card1874
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > navigational aids > [noun] > compass > needle of
needle1555
fly?a1560
versor1640
magnetic needle1674
?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) i. xxix. sig. I ij v It is also requisite that within Theodelitus you haue a needle or fly so rectified, that [etc.].
1610 W. Folkingham Feudigraphia ii. vi. 56 The Flie is a Card diuided into eight, sixteene, thirty two equall parts in the Limbe with competent extention to shew the Meridian and Coastages of the Plot.
1690 W. Leybourn Cursus mathematicus f. 611 Upon the top of the Box wherein the Fly and Needle is fastned.
1773 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. (ed. 4) Fly 3, that part of a vane which points how the wind blows.
1789–96 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. I. 49 Observe..what rhumb of the nearest fly runs mostly parallel to the edge of the quadrant.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fly or Compass-Card.
b. A speed-regulating device, usually consisting of vanes upon a rotating shaft, chiefly used in musical boxes and the striking parts of clock-machinery.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > parts regulating movement or speed
fly1599
screw1617
fence1678
springboard1772
check-chain1805
speeder1847
1599 T. Moffett Silkewormes 35 Thy Springs, thy Scrues, thy rowells, and thy flie.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 380 This fly strikes the air with so large a surface, that the resistance it experiences prevents the train of wheels from going too fast.
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 105 When the striking train is discharged it would run with increasing speed but for the fly.
c. A fly wheel, a pair of weighted arms, or other device involving the same principle, used to regulate the speed of machinery.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > wheel > [noun] > attached to shaft
fly1648
roller1734
flyer1781
fly-wheel1784
1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick i. xiii. 87 A single hair fastned unto the fly or ballance of the Jack.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. iii. 46 The Fly is made sometimes with two, sometimes with four Arms from the center.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 51 A fly is sometimes..employed as a collector of power.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/1 11 Fly,..11. The swinging weighted arm of some kinds of presses.
d. = fanner n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > [noun] > winnowing > machine
winnower1605
fanc1669
wind-fan1761
fanner1788
fly1808
whisk1808
aspirator1883
1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon viii. 127 Few winnowing-machines, saving a common whisk or fly, are used in this county.
1836 Penny Cycl. V. 307 A winnowing machine with a fly and sieves is the only additional instrument.
e. Any one of the cylinders of a carding machine.
ΚΠ
1842 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 932/1 The worker next the doffers is called the fly, from its great velocity.
1888 R. Beaumont Woollen & Worsted Cloth Manuf. ii. 56 The doffer removes the fibres brought on to the surface of the swift by the fly.
f. In Machine-knitting, Spinning, Weaving (see quots.). Also in Hand-spinning: the spindle.
ΚΠ
1851 L. D. B. Gordon Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. 1**/2 Drawing out the fibre from the rock, and supplying it regularly to the fly, which is caused to turn rapidly and twist it into a thread or yarn.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/1 Fly 3 (Knitting-machine), another name for the Latch.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/1 Fly 4 (Spinning), the arms which revolve around the bobbin in a spinning-frame, to twist the roving or yarn which is wound on the bobbin.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/1 Fly 6 (Weaving), a shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.
g. In the pianoforte (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1876 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms 173/2 Fly, a hinged board which covers the keys of the pianoforte or organ when not in use.
1879 A. J. Hipkins in G. Grove Dict. Music I. 619/2 A screw perforating the jack, tongue, or fly as it is variously called, of the grasshopper [in a pianoforte].
h. In a screw-log (see quot. 1882).
ΚΠ
1882 Capt. Moriarty in Encycl. Brit. XIV. 770/2 The ‘fly’ [of a screw-log] consists of a hollow copper cylinder about 9 or 10 inches long with four fins or blades placed at a given angle, causing it to rotate once in a certain distance.
i. Metal-working. An apparatus worked by the horizontal swinging of a weighted lever, for cutting out with a die pieces of metal of a required shape from a bar or sheet.
ΚΠ
1831 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal I. 211 With a fly..nails of almost any size or shape might..be cut out of rolled metal.
6. Waste cotton. Cf. flue n.2, fluff n.1
ΚΠ
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator (new ed.) IV. 274/1 Fly or short staple cotton, which has gathered below the machine.
1893 Labour Commission Gloss. Fly, loose down.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations. (In many of these the first element may be really the verb-stem.) C1.
a. Simple attributive.
(a) (In sense 3b.)
fly-horse n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > draught-horse > that pulls vehicle > of specific type (miscellaneous)
chareter1601
gigstera1812
van horse1820
cab horse1828
cabber1832
stanhope horse1836
vanner1854
sledder1869
trapper1883
trammer1889
fly-horse1891
busser1894
1891 C. T. C. James Romantic Rigmarole 134 That moribund fly-horse.
fly-proprietor n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > hiring or letting out > [noun] > hirer out > of horses or carriages
hackney man1307
hackman1571
vittorin1613
vetturino1617
coach-master1721
jobman1794
jobmaster1802
jobber1809
jobbing master1835
fly-proprietor1845
1845 P.O. Directory 6 Home Counties 631/1 Box John, fly proprietor.
(b) (In sense 4a.)
fly-button n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers > parts of > fastening
fly-button1895
split falls1939
trouser zip1940
fly1941
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 86/1 Metal Snap Fly Buttons.
1933 J. E. Liberty Pract. Tailoring vi. 87 The fly buttons..should be carefully marked first by laying the fly edge along the catch seam and marking over from the holes on to the button catch.
1961 A. Wilson Old Men at Zoo ii. 81 You've been state nursed from the cradle, without ever learning to do your own flybuttons up.
fly-front n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering button holes
fly1844
fly-front1893
1893 Times 8 July 12/2 This coat has a fly front buttoning underneath.
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 175/2 Men's fancy fly front corduroy vests will be all the style for the coming season.
1961 Sunday Express 12 Mar. 16/7 Simple trench coat..fly-front.
(c) (In sense 4d.)
fly-gallery n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > stage > [noun] > parts above stage
shadow1600
fly1805
rigging loft1851
gridiron-floor1881
gridiron1886
fly-gallery1888
grid1927
1888 Kobbé in Scribner's Mag. IV. 437 The fly-galleries on either side, from the lowest of which the drop-scenes and borders are worked.
(d) (In sense 5b.)
fly-pinion n.
ΚΠ
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 106 Fly Pinion, the pinion in a clock which carries the fly.
(e) (In sense 5c.)
fly-piston n.
fly-screw n.
ΚΠ
1833 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal II. 152 In the production of boxes for fly-screws and others having several worms.
b. Objective.
(a) (In sense 3b.)
fly-driver n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport by vehicles plying for hire > [noun] > driving or hiring of cabs > driver of hired cab > driver of fly
flyman1845
fly-driver1846
1846 A. Smith Christopher Tadpole (1848) v. 59 Prejudices, which..had somewhat operated against the fly-drivers on the part of the family coachmen.
(b) (In sense 5g.)
fly-finisher n.
(c)
fly-finishing n.
c. Instrumental. , as (sense 4a) fly-fronted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > fastened in specific way > other
well-laced?1590
frogged1774
tight-laced1861
front-fastening1871
fly-fronted1901
zip-up1927
1901 in C. W. Cunnington Eng. Women's Clothing (1952) ii. 43 A fly-fronted coat.
1929 Evening News 18 Nov. 6/5 Look at the above Overcoat, the Fly-fronted Chester, which is a specially dignified style, and is much worn by business and professional men.
C2. Special combinations.
fly ash n. ash resulting from the burning of pulverized coal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > products of burning > [noun] > ashes or cinders > specific ashes
soap-ashes?1520
gravelled ashes1579
bone ash1594
cupel-dusta1626
polverine1662
peat ash1669
kelp1679
clar1683
cupel-ashes1683
wood-ash1748
bone earth1770
kelp-ashes1834
white ash1837
weed ash1841
fly ash1931
1931 Electr. World 23 May 961/1 The solution of the fly-ash problem lies in reducing the amount of ash that is discharged to the atmosphere to the point where it is no longer objectionable.
1937 Jrnl. Amer. Concrete Inst. 8 578 The residue from the burning of powdered coal is commonly designated as ‘fly ash’.
1956 Sci. News 40 83 Fly-ash produced in boilers fired by pulverized fuel can be used in making building materials.
1967 New Scientist 15 June 650/1 Many schemes have been proposed for using up the millions of tons of ‘fly-ash’, a dust-like residue produced by coal-burning plant.
fly-ball n. Baseball a ball that may be caught ‘on the fly’.
ΚΠ
1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 29 They should be..excellent judges of fly-balls.
fly-bill n. a handbill to be scattered broadcast, also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [noun] > leafleting > leaflet for public distribution
flying sheet1769
fly-sheet1833
leaflet1860
throwaway1883
fly-bill1891
handout1907
1891 Daily News 28 Sept. 7/1 A fly-bill poster.
fly-block n. Nautical ‘the block spliced into the topsail-tye’ (Adm. Smyth).
ΚΠ
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 46 Then..reeve the other end through the fly-block for a fall.
fly boy n. U.S. slang a member of the Air Force, esp. a pilot.
ΚΠ
1946 Amer. Speech 21 248 Airforce flying personnel are sometimes labelled bird-men or flyboys.
1948 Life 1 Nov. 87/2 The generals are no full-throttle ‘fly-boys’.
1954 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang (ed. 2) §756/2 Cloud hopper, eagle, eagle chaser, fly-boy, manbird, sky chauffeur.
fly-bridge n. = flying bridge n.
ΚΠ
1614 J. Sylvester Bethulia's Rescue iii. 110 Th' Engineer..Brings here his Fly-Bridge, there his batt'ring Crow.
fly camp n. a temporary camp.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > camp or encampment > [noun] > type of
ordu1673
chantier1823
douar1829
outcamp1844
log-camp1858
lumbering-camp1858
yayla1864
refugee camp1865
cow-camp1873
gypsyry1873
work camp1877
tent town1878
logging-camp1880
lumber-camp1882
town camp1885
base camp1887
line-camp1888
wanigan1890
isolation camp1891
tent village1899
sheep-camp1911
safari camp1912
jungle1914
transit camp1919
Siwash camp1922
health camp1925
tent city1934
fly camp1939
bivvy1961
1939 Amer. Speech 14 236 I heard the branch camps attached to one of our mountain divisions of the CCC referred to as fly camps.
1959 Tararua (N.Z.) XIII. 49 Fly-camp for a small, subsidiary, temporary camp..suggests a camp with merely a fly as shelter.
1964 Imperial Oil Rev. (Toronto) Dec. 5/2 Outside on the river bank..Hughes moved one helicopter..off to the nearest fly camp, 35 miles southwest.
fly-catch n. Baseball a catch ‘on the fly’.
ΚΠ
1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 30 Chances for fly-catches from short, high balls.
fly-clock n. a clock regulated by a fly, before the introduction of pendulums.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > clock > [noun] > other types of clock
watch-clock1592
German clock1598
quarter clocka1631
wheel-clock1671
table clocka1684
month clock1712
astronomical clock1719
musical clock1721
repeater1725
Tompion1727
pulling clock1733
regulator1735
eight-day clock1741
regulator clock1750
French clock1757
repetition clock1765
day clock1766
striker1778
chiming clock1789
cuckoo-clock1789
night clock1823
telltale1827
carriage clock1828
fly-clock1830
steeple clock1830
telltale clock1832
skeleton clock1842
telegraph clock1842
star clock1850
weight-clock1850
prison clock1853
crystal clock1854
pillar scroll top clock1860
sheep's-head clock1872
presentation clock1875
pillar clock1880
stop-clock1881
Waterbury1882
calendar-clock1884
ting-tang clock1884
birdcage clock1886
sheep's head1887
perpetual calendar1892
bracket clock1894
Act of Parliament clock1899
cartel clock1899
banjo-clock1903
master clock1904
lantern clock1913
time clock1919
evolutionary clock1922
lancet clock1922
atomic clock1927
quartz clock1934
clock radio1946
real-time clock1953
organ clock1956
molecular clock1974
travelling clock2014
1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. ii. vi. 187 By clocks he [Lord Bacon] could not have meant pendulum clocks, which were not then known..but fly-clocks.
fly-coach n. = 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles (plying) for hire > [noun] > hired carriage
remise1698
job coach1748
voiturin1768
slap-bang coach1797
fly1818
fly-by-night1818
fly-coach1818
job1819
fly-wagon1826
horse-fly1826
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian i, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 15 The slow and safe motion of the ancient Fly-coaches.
fly-cruise n. a holiday involving an air journey to the place where a sea-cruise begins; also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > holiday-making or tourism > [noun] > type of holiday or tour
grand tour1678
villegiature1740
villeggiatura1742
honeymoon1791
wedding visit1794
honeymooning1832
wedding tour1847
wedding trip1855
second honeymoon1872
tourette1881
weekending1886
package holiday1959
fly-cruise1968
ski pack1969
ecotour1973
package1977
1968 Times 14 Sept. 24/3 Sorting through the information I had gathered on ‘fly-cruise’ holidays, I came upon what was for me a new aspect of the regulations.
1970 Daily Tel. 19 Sept. 11 Flying to join a ship for a couple of weeks' cruising holiday in the Mediterranean had gradually won popularity... This year several firms are offering Caribbean fly-cruises.
1971 Sunday Times 3 Jan. 72/1 The increasingly popular fly-cruise holidays.
fly-cutter n. a cutting tool driven at a high rate of speed.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine tool > [noun] > specific tools
hook1680
rough grinder1777
side tool1804
bottom tool1819
broad1846
sweep1847
wobbler1875
knurl1879
cam-cuttera1884
fly-cutter1884
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 105 Latterly fly cutters are often made double.
fly-door n. Mining a door opening either way.
ΚΠ
1849 G. C. Greenwell Gloss. Terms Coal Trade Northumberland & Durham 24 Fly doors, or swing doors,..constructed as always to fall close when left alone, but to open either towards or from the current of air.
fly-drill n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/1 Fly-drill, one having a reciprocating fly~wheel which gives it a steady momentum.
fly-frame n. (a) Cotton-spinning = flyer frame at flyer n. 3e; (b) a machine used in the polishing and grinding of glass.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > glass-making equipment > [noun] > other equipment
ladle1483
frache1662
paddle1662
strocals1662
basin1728
setting-board1825
cuvette1832
sabre1832
fly-frame1835
chair1845
snapdragon1869
sand-blast1871
parallelometer1887
chevalet1890
harbour1891
hearth1898
frigger1923
drawbar1926
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > spinning > machine > parts of
knave1564
porcupine roller1776
catch box1809
jack-frame1814
Jack-in-the-box1814
flyer frame1825
sneck1825
thread-wire1825
creel1835
fly-frame1835
self-actor1835
trumpet-mouth1835
counter-faller1836
Jack1875
trumpet1877
back-shaft1879
builder1884
pot-eye1884
twizzle1884
rice creel1895
1835 A. Ure Philos. Manuf. 111 The bobbin and fly frames, or roving-machines.
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 131 The huge sheets of glass are..ground with sand under a heavy iron ‘fly-frame’, said to have been invented by James Watt.
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 344/2 Fly frames, a series of machines used to attenuate roving in preparation for the spinning frame.
fly-governor n. (see quot.) = 5c.
ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 895/2 Fly-governor, one which regulates speed by the impact of vanes upon the air.
fly-half n. Rugby the half-back who stands off from the scrum-half; = stand-off half.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of player > player or position
full back1875
goal kick1875
No. eight1876
goalkicker1879
three-quarter back1880
handler1888
three-quarter1889
heeler1892
scrum half1894
lock forward1898
standoff1902
five-eighth1905
hooker1905
threes1905
flying half1906
loose head1907
standoff1908
fly-half1918
fly1921
inside half1921
outside half1921
scrum1921
inside centre1936
flank forward1937
out-half1949
prop1950
prop forward1951
number eight1952
flanker1953
tight head1959
back-rower1969
second rower1969
striker1973
packman1992
1918 J. E. Raphael Mod. Rugby Football 127 It is the business of the three-quarters not to force the fly half forward, but to stand back also.
1921 W. J. Martin in E. H. D. Sewell Rugby Football up to Date 60 He [sc. the scrum half] knows by the signal which way his fly-half is going to run.
1955 Times 1 Aug. 3/3 Scrum half Williams and Morgan at fly-half.
fly-kick n. a kick (esp. in Rugby football) made while moving at rapid speed.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > types of kick or ball
drop1845
drop-kick1857
punt-out1861
free kick1862
poster1862
goal kick1870
dropout1882
touch kick1887
touch-finder1898
fly-kick1906
grubber kick1950
grub-kick1951
tap-kick1960
up and under1960
chip kick1965
Garryowen1965
box kick1972
chip and chase1976
1906 D. Gallaher & W. J. Stead Compl. Rugby Footballer 208 Ninety-nine successful fly-kicks do not atone for one failure.
1921 E. H. D. Sewell Rugby Football up to Date 92 Whether by punt, drop, or ‘field’ or fly-kick does not matter.
fly-kick v. (transitive and intransitive) .
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > play rugby football [verb (intransitive)] > actions or manoeuvres
pack1874
heel1884
scrum1890
goal1900
drop1905
to give (or sell) the (or a) dummy1907
ruck1910
jinka1914
to drop out1917
fly-kick1930
scissor1935
quick-heel1936
short-punt1937
touch-kick1954
grubber-kick1958
peel1960
corner-flag1962
to chip and chase1970
box kick1977
1930 Daily Express 6 Nov. 17/7 Hunt suddenly turned defence into attack by fly-kicking.
1959 Observer 28 June 29/3 A pass which Dawson fly-kicked some 30 or 40 yards down the field.
fly-line n. the line of flight taken by a bird in its regular migrations.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > actions or bird defined by > [noun] > migration > route of
fly-line1884
flyway1891
flight-line1933
1884 H. Seebohm Hist. Brit. Birds II. 506 One of the ‘fly-lines’ of this species crosses the Bermuda Islands.
fly-nut n. a screw nut having wings or projections which enable it to be tightened by hand.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nut > wing-nut
wing-nut1775
fly-nut1825
butterfly nut1849
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 454 The small binding screw with a fly-nut.
1896 Palmer Tyres 22 Fly nut for opening valve.
1953 F. E. Flood & M. West Dict. Sci. & Techn. Words (ed. 2) 138/2 Fly-nut, nut with wings so that it can be screwed on by hand.
fly-page n. the side of a flyleaf (see flyleaf n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > leaves or pages of book > [noun] > page > one side of fly-leaf
fly-page1892
1892 J. Cave-Browne Hist. Boxley A parish-register..often contains on its fly-pages, chance notes and memoranda.
fly-penning n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Fly-penning, a mode of manuring land practised in England and in the colonies by folding cattle or sheep in rotation over different parts of it.
fly-piston n. (see 1831).
ΚΠ
1831 J. Holland Treat. Manuf. Metal I. 48 In which [cylinder] works a weighted, or what is called a fly-piston.
fly-pole n. = giant stride n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > [noun] > equipment
plummet?1537
springboard?1780
horse1785
trampoline1798
club1815
gallows1817
Indian club1825
rope1825
horizontal bar1827
trapeze1830
vaulting bar1839
parallel bars1850
wooden horse1854
trapezium1856
giant stride1863
ring1869
vaulting horse1875
mast1880
fly-pole1884
pommel1887
Roman ring1894
mat1903
wall bar1903
pommel horse1908
buck1932
pommel vault1932
landing mat1941
rebounder1980
1884 J. J. Pope Number One iv. 101 A ‘fly-pole’ and a swing should be in every playground.
fly-post v. (transitive and intransitive) to display (posters) rapidly in unauthorized places; transitive, to cover with bills so posted; so fly-posting n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [noun] > placarding, postering, or billing
affixment1639
posting1656
affixion1760
placarding1800
screening1806
bill-sticking1851
paperhanging1851
bill-posting1869
billing1875
fly-posting1903
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [verb (intransitive)] > put up a placard, notice, or bill
fly-post1903
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [verb (transitive)] > publish by placard, notice, or bill > put up placard, notice, or bill on
screena1664
placard1813
bill1821
post1854
fly-post1903
paper1908
1903 Daily Mail 25 Feb. 3/7 A young advance agent for a theatrical company who went out ‘fly-posting’ in the dead of night and pasted bills on private property.
1906 Daily Chron. 21 July 6/6 A staff of men..to fly-post the constituency during the night with Tariff Reform literature.
1961 Times 21 June 13/6 The special triumph of what was known as ‘fly posting’ was to obliterate some rival announcement.
1970 Daily Tel. 11 Dec. (Colour Suppl.) 28/4 Intricate Art Nouveau offerings which he once used to help to fly-post stealthily all over London.
fly-press n. a screw press worked by a fly (see 5c).
ΚΠ
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XIV. (at cited word) The coining press or fly-press.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 896/2 Fly-press, a screw-press in which the power is derived from a weighted arm, swinging in a horizontal plane, as in embossing and die presses.
fly-pulley n. a pulley that may be shifted along the length of a shaft.
ΚΠ
1884 Internat. Health Exhib. Official Catal. p. lvii/1 Crank-shaft which carries fly-pulley for transmitting the power by means of a strap.
fly-punching press n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 896/2 Fly-punching press, a press for cutting teeth on saws and for other purposes.
fly-rail n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Fly-rail, that part of a table which turns out to support the leaf.
fly-reed n. Weaving the reed of a fly-shuttle loom.
ΚΠ
1863 J. Watson Theory & Pract. Weaving 126 When Mr. Bullough introduced his Loom with the Fly Reed.
fly-rope n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1892 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. (ed. 2) App. Fly Rope, a term often used to denote a rope of cotton or hemp used for telodynamic transmission of power.
fly-sail n. Nautical ? = flying jib at jib n.1 1a.
ΚΠ
1819 J. H. Vaux Memoirs I. 65 With only a storm jib, and fly-sail set.
fly-shuttle n. (Weaving) (see quot. (see quot. 1874).
ΚΠ
1795 J. Aikin Descr. Country round Manch. 300 With the use of the fly shuttle.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 896/2 Fly-shuttle, a shuttle driven by a picker in contradistinction to one thrown by hand.
fly-spring n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1884 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (new ed.) 106 Fly Spring, causes the outer cover of a watch case to fly open.
fly stitch n. (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > embroidery or ornamental sewing > stitch > other
chain-stitch1598
French knot1623
picot1623
petty-point1632
tent-stitch1639
brede-stitch1640
herringbone stitch1659
satin stitch1664
feather-stitch1835
Gobelin stitch1838
crowfoot1839
seedingc1840
German stitch1842
petit point1842
long stitch1849
looped stitch1851
hem-stitch1853
loop-stitch1853
faggot stitch1854
spider-wheel1868
dot stitch1869
picot stitch1869
slip-stitch1872
coral-stitch1873
stem stitch1873
rope stitch1875
Vienna cross stitch1876
witch stitch1876
pin stitch1878
seed stitch1879
cushion-stitch1880
Japanese stitch1880
darning-stitch1881
Kensington stitch1881
knot-stitch1881
bullion knot1882
cable pattern1882
Italian stitch1882
lattice-stitch1882
queen stitch1882
rice stitch1882
shadow-stitch1882
ship-ladder1882
spider-stitch1882
stem1882
Vandyke stitch1882
warp-stitch1882
wheel-stitch1882
basket-stitch1883
outline stitch1885
pointing1888
bullion stitchc1890
cable-stitchc1890
oriental stitchc1890
Turkish stitchc1890
Romanian stitch1894
shell-stitch1895
saddle stitch1899
magic stitch1900
plumage-stitch1900
saddle stitching1902
German knot stitch1903
trellis1912
padding stitch1913
straight stitch1918
Hungarian stitch1921
trellis stitch1921
lazy daisy1923
diamond stitchc1926
darning1930
faggot filling stitch1934
fly stitch1934
magic chain stitch1934
glove stitch1964
pad stitch1964
1934 M. Thomas Dict. Embroidery Stitches 101 Fly stitch is..a kind of open detached chain stitch.
1960 G. Lewis Handbk. Crafts 32 Fly stitch or Y stitch... The needle comes up at the top of the left arm of the V part of the stitch. It is inserted at the top of the right arm of the V and comes out at the base of the V over the loop of the working thread. The tail of the Y can be as long or short as desired.
fly-table n. a table with flaps that may be let down.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > table > [noun] > table with leaf or flap
folded table1504
leaf table1570
Pembroke1778
fly-table1785
flap table1833
Sutherland table1879
gate-table1904
1785 W. Cowper Let. 19 Mar. (1981) II. 333 The fly table was too slight and too small.
Categories »
fly-tail n. U.S. a small gill-net without sinkers formerly used for catching perch, etc. ( Cent. Dict.).
fly-tent n. ? a tent having a fly (sense 4b).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > tent > [noun] > other types of tent
tenticle1548
pal1656
marquee1690
gourbi1738
marquise1749
yurt1780
bell-tent1785
kibitka1799
shuldari1808
fly-tent1816
Swiss cottage1820
skin house1826
big tent1843
ridge tent1846
brush tent1862
dog tent1862
shelter tent1862
wall-tent1862
wedge tent1862
pup tent1863
A tent1863
tupik1864
tentlet1879
choom1889
pyramid1889
tortoise tent1890
safari tent1926
tent-sack1940
tent-trailer1963
tepee1970
trailer tent1971
Whillans box1971
1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) II. 8 Three fly-tents, with mattresses laid on the ground, accommodate six Europeans.
fly-tip n. Nautical (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 58 Fly Tip. This is a foul ball held by the catcher, sharp from the bat.
fly-title n.
ΚΠ
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 44 Fly-title, the half-title in front of the general title, or which divides sections of a work.
fly-tool n.
ΚΠ
1819 Rees Cycl. Fly-tool is a very light narrow wooden spade shod with iron, which the navigators of a canal use for cutting or throwing out any soft clay..or the like.
fly-up n.
ΚΠ
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fly-up, a sudden deviation upwards from a sheer line.
fly-wagon n. = 3a.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles (plying) for hire > [noun] > hired carriage
remise1698
job coach1748
voiturin1768
slap-bang coach1797
fly1818
fly-by-night1818
fly-coach1818
job1819
fly-wagon1826
horse-fly1826
1826 T. Hood Whims & Oddities in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 1547 The ponderous fly-waggon passed me.
fly waste n. waste which comes from the fly (sense 5 f).
ΚΠ
1884 W. S. B. McLaren Spinning Woollen & Worsted (ed. 2) 205 If they have a drawback, it is that they have a tendency to make more fly waste.
Draft additions 1993
fly bridge n. on a yacht, cabin cruiser, etc.: an open deck above the bridge, usually equipped with duplicate navigating controls; frequently attributive.
ΚΠ
1962 Pop. Boating Sept. (advt.) Fiberglass flybridge in ocean swells..prevents swaying.
1974 Telegraph (Brisbane) 17 Sept. 47/1 The Baron..is the first flybridge boat to be released under 6m (20 ft.)... The deluxe is fitted with steering console both on the flybridge and in the cabin.
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 9 Oct. e5/9 (advt.) Chris Craft Commander 38′, flybridge sedan, well equipped.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
flyadj.
/flʌɪ/, U.S. /flaɪ/ slang.
1. Knowing, wide-awake, sharp. fly to (anything): ‘up’ to, well acquainted with, clever at.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > [adjective] > knowledgeable, well-informed
knowinga1398
well-knowingc1425
scientc1475
advertised1481
well-informeda1500
scientive1575
callent1656
fly1811
knowledgeable1825
factful1853
dungeonable1855
knowful1855
woke up1871
in the know1883
to be jerry1908
hipped1920
wised-up1926
clueful1943
genned-up1945
clued (up)1948
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > astute
oldOE
witterc1100
pratc1175
smeighc1200
fellc1300
yap13..
far-castinga1387
parlousc1390
advisee?a1400
politic?a1439
astucec1550
political1577
astute1611
knowing1664
shrewda1684
sharp1697
leery1718
peery1721
fly1811
canny1816
flash1818
astucious1823
varmint1829
chickaleary1839
wide1879
snide1883
varminty1907
crazy like (or as) a fox1935
1811 Lexicon Balatronicum (at cited word) Fly..The rattling cove is fly; the coachman knows what we are about.
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II. 5 You are fly to cant.
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 109/2 We're rather ‘fly to a dodge’.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House xvi. 159 ‘I am fly,’ says Jo.
2. Of the fingers: Dexterous, nimble, skilful. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > having or characterized by bodily skill > skilled with hands > skilful (of the fingers)
fly1834
1834 W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood II. iii. v. 345 No dummy hunter had forks so fly.
1839 G. W. M. Reynolds Pickwick Abroad 224 We'll knap a fogle with fingers fly.
1878 J. H. Beadle Western Wilds vii. 103 Two plainsmen, known as Arkansaw and Curly —, the former a ‘fly shot’.
Compounds
fly cop n. slang (see quots. 1859, 1962); (U.S.) a detective, a plain-clothes policeman.
ΚΠ
1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 34 Fly-cop, sharp officer;..an officer that understands his business.
1872 Chicago Tribune 27 Dec. 8/3 Blacklegs, gamblers, ‘fly cops’, and sports.
1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang I. 376/1 Fly-cop (thieves'), a sharp policeman.
1893 E. M. Whittemore Delia 62 I didn't know whether the men were ‘Fly cops’ or something else.
1900 ‘J. Flynt’ & ‘F. Walton’ Powers that Prey 170 He was a copper, and we fly cops have got to send some bloke to the chair for blastin' him.
a1906 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp (1916) 227 It was purely the still panic produced by the sound of the ax of the fly cop, Conscience, hammering at the gambling-house doors of the Heart.
1910 P. G. Wodehouse Gentleman of Leisure xviii. 200 ‘A detective?’ ‘Dat's right. A fly cop.’
1962 John o' London's 25 Jan. 82/2 A motorised police officer is.. a fly cop.
fly-flat n. (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1864 Revelations Lady Detective 126 I have an appointment with a fly flat (i.e. a clever fool).
1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang Fly-flat (Turf), one who really knows little or nothing about racing, but fancies him~self thoroughly initiated in all its mysteries.
1907 Daily Chron. 1 Apr. 4/4 The criminal classes..always speak of fools who think they are wise as ‘fly-flats’.
1938 J. Cary Castle Corner x. 559 ‘I don't see why we should consider the speculators.’ ‘A lot of fly-flats who thought they could beat us at the game.’
fly-pitch n. slang a street pitch.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > trading place > stall or booth > [noun] > pitch > in a street
fly-pitch1934
1934 Evening News 9 July 11/2 There are the ‘fly pitches’, spots..where the cheap-jacks take their stand... The most famous is at the foot of the Irving statue at the side of the National Portrait Gallery. Whenever you see a really big crowd collected at this spot you can be sure that one or other of the familiar fly-pitchers of London is doing his stuff. It may be the coloured Prince of Tipsters, proving vehemently that he..holds the secret of making money out of racing.
1939 J. B. Priestley Let People Sing x. 256 ‘Bin workin' a fly pitch in the Sat'day gaff,’ said Micky Barnet.
fly-pitcher n. one who operates a fly-pitch, a street-trader.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > [noun] > street vendor
costermonger?1518
street vendor1840
street trader1845
coster1851
handseller1851
patterer1851
umbrella man1851
gutter-man1892
dragger1896
gutter-merchant1896
pitcher1896
pitchman1914
pitchwoman1927
barrow boy1939
fly-pitcher1965
mama put1979
1965 Sun 26 Oct. 7/6 Charlie Byass..is one of the two dozen or so licensed chestnut men in London. There are others, called ‘fly pitchers’, who sell without a licence.
Draft additions 1997
3. U.S.
a. Stylish, sophisticated; fashionable.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [adjective]
in (also into) request?1574
bonfacion1584
fashional?1607
of request1613
fashionablea1627
à la mode1642
all the mode1651
modish1661
in mode1664
timeish1676
of vogue1678
voguea1695
mody1701
alamodic1753
much the mode1767
tonish1778
go1784
stylish1800
bang-up1810
tippy1810
varmint1823
up to the knocker1844
gyvera1866
OK1869
fly1879
swagger1879
doggy1885
faddy1885
fantoosh1920
voguish1927
voguey1928
à la page1930
go1937
hard1938
hip1939
down1952
swinging1958
a-go-go1960
way-in1960
yé-yé1960
trendy1962
with-it1962
go-go1963
happening1965
mod1965
funky1967
together1968
fash1977
cred1987
1879 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 20 Sept. 15/2 I am speaking now of the young..men about town who think it is awfully ‘fly’ to know tow-headed actresses, and that to sip crab-apple champagne with the gaudy, vulgar thing in pink tights is just the nobbiest thing on earth.
1896 G. Ade Artie xviii. 169 They get in with a lot o' cheap skates and chase around at nights and think they're the real thing... They think they're fly, but they ain't.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues ii. 23 Marcelle must have figured me for a fly cat too, and her curiosity was aroused.
1954 L. Armstrong Satchmo iii. 41 They were playing At the Animals' Ball... When the break came I made it a real good one and a fly one at that.
1970 Current Slang (Univ. S. Dakota) 5 ii. 7 Fly, adj., well dressed.
b. Chiefly Black English. Attractive, good-looking; hence, excellent, fabulous (cf. fly boy n. at Additions below; fly girl n.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > attractive or impressive quality > [adjective]
high-toned1845
toffish1873
tony1877
stylish1892
fly1980
dope1981
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
1980 E. Morris et al. Superrappin' (song) in L. A. Stanley Rap: the Lyrics (1992) 145 M.C.s, disc jockeys to all the fly kids and the young ladies Introducin' the crew ya got to see to believe.
1991 Source Dec. 48/2 In the elite world of Hip-Hop money makers, boys believe there are two kinds of women. The first are the sistas who have a ‘man’ or are considered both fly and virtuous enough to be a brotha's ‘girl’.
1992 Vibe Fall (Preview Issue) 100/3 To work with him? That would be the most exciting thing to ever happen to me. That shit would be fly.
Draft additions 1997
4. U.S. Unrestrained or rebellious in one's behaviour: spec.
a. (esp. of a woman) flirtatious or sexually promiscuous; wanton.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adjective]
golec888
canga1225
light?c1225
wooinga1382
nicea1387
riota1400
wantonc1400
wrenec1400
lachesc1450
loose?a1500
licentious1555
libertine1560
prostitute1569
riggish1569
wide1574
slipper1581
slippery1586
sportive1595
gay1597
Cyprian1598
suburb1598
waggish1600
smicker1606
suburbian1606
loose-living1607
wantona1627
free-living1632
libertinous1632
loose-lived1641
Corinthian1642
akolastic1656
slight1685
fast1699
freea1731
brisk1740
shy1787
slang1818
randomc1825
fastish1832
loosish1846
slummya1860
velocious1872
fly1880
slack1951
1880 C. L. Martin Sam Bass iv. 18 The woman who made the least secret about the color of her garters, and who was the ‘flyest of all the mob’, was the belle of the place.
1888 in Farmer & Henley Slang (1893) III. 42/1 I'm just gettin' sick'n tired o' the way't them fly dames go on, 'n the way't the fellahs hang round 'em 'n dance with 'em.
1931 F. Hurst Back St. i. 3 You're one of those cheating girls who act fly, but aren't. You'll lead a man on, but you won't go all the way.
1948 Z. N. Hurston Seraph on Suwanee xi. 113 That Corregio woman was ‘fly’ and doing her level best to bait Jim Meserve in.
b. Wild, audacious, impertinent; brash.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective] > pert or brash
pertc1405
skipjack1598
puppily1682
whelpish1688
saucy1710
owdacious1751
minxing1767
puppyish1775
puppy-like1792
brash1824
pertish1836
cheekish1838
uppish1841
tossy1848
fly1884
soubrettish1891
whipper-snapping1925
in your face1975
1884 in Miller & Snell Why West was Wild (1963) 515 A pair of very ‘fly’ Chicago drummers came down last week bent on doing the ‘boys’ up and painting the town red... Denhollem's..safe was broken open during the night while these ‘fly ones’ were peacefully reposing in their beds.
1896 G. Ade Artie iv. 34 Artie stopped short, slowly rubbed his chin and looked at the intruder. ‘You won't think I'm too fly if I ask you a question, will you?’
1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 135 You won't forget to nag me even then for duds to go automobiling with fly men that can't bring you no good.
1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 54 Fly, fast, and ecstatic; brash.
1992 Newsweek (Canad. ed.) 4 May 64/1 People make the circle when they think you have the flavor and you're gonna do something fly... But my life's not about bein' large, ya know?
Draft additions 1997
fly boy n. originally and chiefly U.S. (a) a sharp or shrewd young man; (b) (esp. in Black English) a stylish or sophisticated young man.
ΚΠ
1888 in Random House Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 791/1 Jim Blake lived in the country, and though a pretty fly boy among the rustics was not up in the ways of the outside world.
1896 G. Ade Artie vi. 57 Here comes a whole crowd o' people—a lot o' swell girls and their fly boys. The car was nearly full.
1950 A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll 182 Here were the fly boys of the burgeoning entertainment industry.
1980 ‘L. Cody’ Dupe ii. 13 Bit of a fly-boy, anyway, I shouldn't wonder.
1993 Independent 18 Feb. 22/6 The rapper Butterfly..tries to push the hip vernacular to implosion-point, unleashing a stream of all-purpose, timeless hepcat babble that would be just as easily understood by Fifties beats as Nineties fly-boys.
Draft additions 1997
fly guy n. = fly boy n. at Additions above.
ΚΠ
1906 in Random House Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1994) I. 792/1 They're fly guys there all right... But the flyer they are the easier it is to trim them.
1979 S. Robinson et al. Rapper's Delight (song) in L. A. Stanley Rap: the Lyrics (1992) 322 So I rocked some vicious rhymes like I never did before She said, ‘Damn, fly guy, I'm in love with you The Casanova legend must have been true.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
flyv.1
/flʌɪ/, U.S. /flaɪ//fluː/; past participle flown /fləʊn/. Forms: infinitive Old English fléog-an (Mercian flég-an, northern fléga, Kent. flíogan), Middle English fleo(n, flon, (Middle English fleoin, south. vleoin), fli(en, Middle English fleȝ(h)en, Orm. fleȝhenn, Middle English flei(e, fliȝe(n, flihen, flyhen, southern vliȝen, vlien, Middle English–1500s fley(e, (Middle English fleeȝ, fleighe, fleiȝ, Middle English flegh), Middle English fleen, Middle English–1500s fle, (Middle English southern vle), Middle English–1600s flie, flye, (Middle English southern vlie, vly, Middle English flyyn), Middle English– (now only Scottish) flee, Middle English– fly. past tense α. singular Old English fléag, fléah, flég, Middle English fleh, Middle English fleah, flæh, Middle English flagh(e, flaȝe, Middle English–1500s flaw(e, Middle English flegh(e, fleȝ(e, flei(g)h, fleyghe, fleiȝ, fligh, fly. β. plural Old English flugon, Middle English floȝe(n, fluȝen, Middle English fluwen, Middle English flow(e)n. γ. singular Middle English flough(e, Middle English flou, flow, Middle English floȝe, floy. δ. singular and plural Middle English–1500s flewe, (1500s flue), Middle English– flew. past participle Old English flogen, Middle English floȝen, Middle English–1500s flowe(n, (Middle English flone, floon, 1500s fleen, flighen), 1500s–1600s fline, flyen, flowne, (1600s–1700s flew), 1500s– flown. Also weak past tense Middle English flyghed, Middle English, 1600s flyde, 1600s flide, flied, flyed. I. Senses relating to flight through the air.
1.
a. intransitive. To move through the air with wings. Also with adverbs, as about, away, forth, off, out, etc. as the crow flies: see crow n.1 3c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > move swiftly [verb (intransitive)]
lakeOE
flyOE
runOE
scour13..
jace1393
hie1398
spina1400
fleetc1400
glentc1400
stripc1400
suea1450
carryc1450
speed1488
scud1532
streek1598
winga1616
to clip it1616
hackney1617
swifta1618
whirryc1630
dust1673
whew1684
race1702
stroke1735
cut1797
spank1807
skid1815
speela1818
crack1824
skimmer1824
slap1827
clip1832
skeet1838
marvel1841
lick1850
travel1850
rush1852
zip1852
sail1876
rabbit1887
move1906
high-tail1908
to ball the jack1914
buzz1914
shift1922
giddap1938
burn1942
hoosh1943
bomb1966
shred1977
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > move in the air [verb (intransitive)] > swiftly
shoota1000
flyOE
slinga1400
warp1565
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > move in the air [verb (intransitive)] > fly (as) with wings
fleec1000
flyOE
winga1616
OE Beowulf 2273 Nacod niðdraca, nihtes fleogeð fyre befangen.
OE Judith 209 Ac him fleah on last earn ætes georn.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 140 Se earn on ðam ofre gesæt, mid fisce geflogen, þone he ðærrihte gefeng.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 129 Alle þe fuȝelas þe fluȝen bi þam lufte.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5991 Forr ærn maȝȝ heȝhe fleȝhenn.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1946 Her comen blake fleȝen and fluȝen [c1300 Otho floȝe] in mone eȝene.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 29 Beter hym hadde ybe Haue bi leued ther doune, than ylerned for to fle.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 672 He let him makie wengen..& þo he was iflowe [v.r. yflowe] an hei [etc.].
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 305 Als fleihes doun þei fleih, ten þousand at ones.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. vi. 6 Ther fleiȝ to me oon of the serafyn.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13449 Es na foul..þat mai fli sua hei.
c1430 J. Lydgate Minor Poems 186 From their lyme-twygges I will flee fer asyde.
c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) ii. lii. 95 I fly aboue þe skyes heyere þan eyþer heroun or egret.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) xix. 335 The bridde..flew [Camb. MS. fly] forthe.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 226 O gentill egill..Quhilk of all foulis dois heast fle.
1533 Anne Boleyn's Coronat. in F. J. Furnivall Ballads from MSS I. 380 She hathe fleen long, Vncertain where to light.
?1614 W. Drummond Song: It Autumne was in Poems The feathred Troupes that flie, and sweetly sing.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 160. ¶8 I wished for the Wings of an Eagle, that I might fly away to those happy Seats.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J.-H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) I. 580 On my approaching him, he [a butterfly] flew off.
a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. P. Calderon Scenes from Magico Prodigioso in Posthumous Poems (1824) 365 Would that my feet were wings, So would I fly to Livia.
b. figurative; esp. of fame, a report, etc. to fly high (or a high pitch): to aim at or reach a high pitch of action, feeling, etc. (cf. flight n.1 3). Also to fly low: to avoid notoriety. to fly short of: to fail in mounting to the level of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail in [verb (transitive)] > fail to reach or attain
to fail of?c1225
to fall short of1590
to fly short of1646
trail1957
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > inventive or creative faculty > creative genius > be inspired [verb (intransitive)]
to fly high (or a high pitch)1655
enrapture1743
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (intransitive)] > in action
overdoa1325
to break to an extreme1592
overact1631
to fly high (or a high pitch)1655
outgrabe1855
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > infamy or notoriety > be or become infamous or notorious [verb (intransitive)] > avoid notoriety
to hide one's headc1475
to fly low1837
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 165 Alse þe fugeles..swo doð þis mannisse flieð fram iuele to werse.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 121 Inicht beoð fleoinde & sechinde ouwer saule heouenliche fode.
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame iii. 1028 Wenged wondres faste fleen.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) i. 39 The renomme therof floughe vnto the duke.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke iv. f. 55 The fame which had to fore..flighen abrode.
a1592 H. Smith Serm. (1866) II. 14 Try every piece of gold, when many Flemish angels fly abroad.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 125 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The prosperous successes of Earle Richard,..were no sooner effected, but fame flyed abroad.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 160 A Dragon, whereof there flieth this tale.
1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xc. 10 Their strength..is soone cut off, and we flie away. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) iii. v. 61 Wing'd with feruour of her loue, she's flowne To her desir'd Posthumus. View more context for this quotation
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. x. 40 How short they flew of that spirit..their weaknesse sufficiently declared. View more context for this quotation
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. ix. 191 Matters flying thus high, the Arch-Bishop..conceived it the safest way to [etc.].
?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. iv. 41 They fly High in their high-flown Divinity.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 194. ⁋2 When the Fame, says he, of this celebrated Beauty first flew Abroad.
1716 Bp. of Bristol Charge 19 Where a Mean is commendable, He must neither fly too High, nor creep too Low.
1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 752 Those brethren whose piety flies the highest pitch.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. ii. iv. 117 As for the Elder Egalité he flies low at this time.
1850 Ld. Tennyson Princess (ed. 3) v. 116 She flies too high.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 209 When did not rumours fly?
c. quasi-transitive with cognate object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > motion in the air > move through the air [verb (transitive)] > pursue (a flight) > fly through or upon
wing1608
fly1609
sail1725
1609 A. Craig Poet. Recreat. sig. A4 Want..makes my Muse so lowe a course to flee.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iii. ii. 41 Ere the Bat hath flowne His Cloyster'd flight. View more context for this quotation
d. In a few expressions, as the bird is or has flown (chiefly figurative: see bird n. Phrases 5a), to let (a bird) fly, the simple vb. is used = ‘fly away’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by locomotion > locomotion of animals > [verb (intransitive)] > fly
flusha1300
soarc1384
fly1480
flitter1483
flit1535
fleck1567
flirt1582
wagtail1606
waft1682
to take to wing1693
flaffer17..
to take (its, etc.) wing1807
skirl1859
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publish or spread abroad [verb (intransitive)] > spread or be current
springOE
spreadc1300
to go abouta1325
quicka1400
risea1400
runa1400
walkc1400
stir1423
voice1429
fly1480
to go abroad1513
to come abroad1525
wandera1547
divulge1604
to get abroad1615
to take aira1616
to make (also do) the rounds1669
to get about1740
reach1970
1480 W. Caxton Chron. Eng. xcv. 75 They..bonde it to the sparwes fete, and afterward lete hem flee.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. M3v They'll all be gone In a short time, like Bats and Owls yflone At dayes approch.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess iv. 70 O tell her, Swallow, that thy brood is flown.
1855 Ld. Tennyson Maud xxi. i, in Maud & Other Poems 67 The black bat, night, has flown.
1881 D. G. Rossetti House of Life viii Thank his wings to-day that he is flown.
e. Of birds: To migrate or issue forth in a body. Cf. flight n.1 1e.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > actions or bird defined by > [verb (intransitive)] > migrate
fly1768
migrate1808
the world > animals > birds > flight > [verb (intransitive)] > in a group
to wedge their way1667
fly1768
1768 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. (new ed.) II. 330 The wild birds fly (as the bird-catchers term it)..during the month of October.
f. Of fish: To spring from the water. Also in more literal sense said of flying fish n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > [verb (intransitive)] > leap
leapa1387
fly1579
prime?1789
1579 T. Stevens Let. 10 Nov. in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1589) i. 161 There is another kind of fish as big almost as a herring, which hath wings and flieth.
1735 C. Mortimer in Philos. Trans. 1733–4 (Royal Soc.) 38 316 The Wings with which it flies in the Air are only a Pair of very large Finns.
1867 F. Francis Bk. Angling ix. 296 Seeing the small fry flying from the water as though a pike were after them.
g. To travel by aircraft. Also transitive, to cover, traverse, or perform by aircraft (also said of the machine). Also, to fly in, out, to arrive, depart, by air.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > fly an aircraft [verb (transitive)] > traverse by flying
fly1884
overfly1973
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > fly (in) an aircraft [verb (intransitive)]
aviate1887
fly1909
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 1462 He had purposed, by the aid of a pair of patent wings,..to fly from one of the Dover cliffs down into the town of Calais.]
1884 Illustr. London News 26 Jan. 91/3 Many successful and unsuccessful attempts have been made to fly the Channel.
1909 Flight 20 Feb. 100/2 To bring together other would-be aviators who, like himself, are primarily anxious to learn to fly.
1909 Punch 4 Aug. 73/1 On the spot where the first man to fly the Channel alighted from his aeroplane.
1909 Captain Nov. p. xii (advt.) Model of the Machine which flew the Channel.
1911 C. Grahame-White & H. Harper Aeroplane 265 As their skill and confidence increased, they began to fly in breezes.
1916 H. Barber Aeroplane Speaks 44 If he were flying over the shortest route to his destination.
1916 H. Barber Aeroplane Speaks 45 The Pilot and Observer fly on and on.
1917 Brit. Dominions Year Bk. 242 We who still regard flying the Straits of Dover as something of a feat.
1931 Times 2 Mar. The Sahara route which is now being flown by the French.
1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose i. 4 He was flying a courier service.
1966 Listener 21 July 103/3 An expert who had flown in from Venezuela to do the job.
1967 Daily Tel. 14 Mar. 20/7 An Indian, aged 100,..applied..for a ticket home to Delhi on the ‘Fly Now Pay Later’ plan.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Feb. b5/5 The [a]erial surveys flown by Texas Gulf in 1960.
1970 Observer 20 Sept. 26/1 The pilot [is] determined to fly no more World War Two bombing missions.
h. Of an aircraft or spacecraft: to travel through the air or through space.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > specific movements or positions of aircraft > fly [verb (intransitive)]
fly1848
wing1938
1848 Chambers's Edinb. Jrnl. 6 May 302/2 To construct a machine to fly by mechanical powers alone.
1902 Aeronaut. World (U.S.) I. 65/2 S. Byerley says he has been working on a novel flying machine, which, he is confident will fly when finished.
1959 Chambers's Encycl. I. 112/1 The faster a given aeroplane flies, the less is the power required to produced its lift.
1971 Daily Tel. 12 Nov. (Colour Suppl.) 8/1 Everything depends on three robot spacecraft..which have been flying towards Mars for the past 22 weeks.
i. Of pigeons: to fly from (a certain place).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [verb (transitive)] > fly from (of pigeon)
fly1898
1898 Daily News 21 Nov. 7/1 There were also young birds that had, to use the technical term, ‘flown Berwick’.
1907 E. Chamberlain Homing Pigeon 178 The best birds in the Barrowford lofts have all flown Nantes as yearlings, and subsequently flown Nantes and Marennes again and again.
j. to be flown down: (of a pigeon).
ΚΠ
1907 E. Chamberlain Homing Pigeon 180 One late bred bird..was a week away when tossed at Stafford, and returned to her loft right flown down.
1907 E. Chamberlain Homing Pigeon 188 Should a bird be flown down in any training stage don't send it to the next.
2. transitive (causatively). To set (birds) flying one against the other. Const. with. Also with away: To send flying away; to let fly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > [verb (transitive)] > set flying against another
fly1607
the world > animals > birds > flight > [verb (transitive)] > send flying or let fly
fly1845
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping birds > [verb (transitive)] > train or fly pigeons
endaunt1393
pitch1765
home1877
fly1883
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > pigeon racing > race pigeons [verb (transitive)]
fly1883
1607 T. Heywood Woman Kilde with Kindnesse sig. B Meet me to morrow At Cheuy-chase, Ile flie my Hawke with yours.
1845 T. Carlyle in O. Cromwell Lett. & Speeches II. 574 Ordered to fly-away their game-cocks.
1883 C. J. Wills In Land of Lion & Sun 94 The pigeons are flown twice a day.
3. Hawking.figurative.1827 J. Barrington Personal Sketches Own Times II. 187 He had occasionally flown at higher game in the regions of poesy.1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. vii. 121 Deer stalking is all very well, but I fly at higher game.figurative.1643 K. Digby Observ. Religio Medici 10 Much lesse can it be expected that an excellent Physitian..should..flye his thoughts at so towring a Game.figurative.a1637 B. Jonson Magnetick Lady Induct. 132 in Wks. (1640) III Fly every thing (you see) to the marke, and censure it; freely.1691 J. Dryden King Arthur iii. i. 23 Oh still thou think'st to fly a Fool to Mark.
a. Of the hawk: To gain by flying a position of attack. Const. at. to fly on head, to fly gross: see quots.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > action of hawk > [verb (intransitive)] > gain position of attack
to fly gross1674
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 119 It is less difficult to teach a Hawk to fly at Fowl then..to..love the Lure.
1677 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation (ed. 2) ii. 164 Fly on head, is missing her Quarry, and betaking her self to the next Check, as Crows, [etc.].
1677 E. Coles Eng. Dict. (new ed.) Fly gross when hawks fly at great Birds, as Cranes.
1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 78 Gerfaulcon Will fly at the Hern. Saker, at the Crane or Bittern.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth V. 131 They have been indeed taught to fly at game.
1826 J. S. Sebright Observ. Hawking (1828) 57 I will suppose that hawks are to fly three days in the week.
b. causatively. Of the falconer: To cause (a hawk) to attack by flying. Also absol. and to fly with (a hawk). Const. at.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > [verb (transitive)] > cause hawk to attack
fly1591
1591 J. Florio Second Frutes 37 I loue to flie at the Partridge and at the Fesant.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) ii. i. 1 For flying at the Brooke, I saw not better sport these seuen yeeres day. View more context for this quotation
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 233 Their best Falcons are out of Russia..they fly them at choise game.
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 102 At first fly with her at young Pheasant or Partridge.
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 130 They are flown at Field or Brook.
a1711 T. Ken Edmund in Wks. (1721) II. iii. 66 His Hawks he oft at Game Aerial flew.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake II. ii. 32 Flying his hawks at a covey of partridges.
1879 E. D. Radcliffe in Encycl. Brit. IX. 9/1 Falcons or long-winged hawks are either ‘flown out of the hood’ i.e. unhooded and slipped when the quarry is in sight, or [etc.].
c. To chase with a hawk. Also of the hawk: To attack by flying. to fly the river: to chase waterfowl. to fly to the mark: see quot. 1891.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (intransitive)] > waterfowl
to fly the rivera1592
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > [verb (transitive)] > chase with hawk
flya1592
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > action of hawk > [verb (transitive)] > attack
flya1592
the world > food and drink > hunting > hawking > hawk [verb (intransitive)]
hawk1340
hobbyc1430
falcon1807
to fly to the mark1891
a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. G4v Weele flie the partridge or go rouse the deere.
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 125 These Hawks do not fly the River.
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 143 When she hath flown a Partridge to the Mark, she will not away untill [etc.].
1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 39 A Hawk that flyes a Covey of Partridges.
1710 Apparition 30 So wary Hawks do fearful Pidgeons fly.
1879 E. D. Radcliffe in Encycl. Brit. IX. 9/2 Rooks are flown in the same manner as herons.
1891 J. E. Harting Bibliotheca Accipitraria Gloss. 226 Mark, to fly at, v. generally said of a Goshawk, when, having ‘put in’ a covey of partridges, she takes stand, marking the spot where they disappeared from view until the falconer arrives to put them out to her.
4. intransitive.
a. To pass or rise quickly in or through the air. Also with about, away, forth, off, out, up, etc. to fly compass: see compass adv. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > becoming or making into gas > become gas [verb (intransitive)] > become vapour > evaporate
evaporate1567
exhalate1599
transpire1643
air1661
fly1732
OE Cynewulf Elene 140 Daroðæsc flugon, hildenædran.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 85 Þet smal chef þet flid ford mid þe winde.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 45/377 Ore leuedi made þe soule a-non to þe bodi aȝen fleo.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 6381 Hit [sc. the manna] flagh til ham als hit ware flour.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Lijv Boulettes of leade..flie not into the ayre by their awne power.
a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) iii. ii. 112 You leaden messengers..Fly with false ayme. View more context for this quotation
1633 J. Shirley Young Admirall i. i Arrows that fly compass Arrive with..happiness to the mark.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 203 The spirit of Wine would immediately fly away.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics in tr. Virgil Wks. ii. 464 Golden Stars flew up to Light the Skies. View more context for this quotation
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron II. vi. xiv. 52 That the volatile Salt or Spirit may fly off.
1741 S. Johnson Drake in Gentleman's Mag. Jan. 40 They..let the Smoak fly out at the Door.
1786 R. Burns Poems 212 Blinding drifts wild-furious flee, Dark'ning the day!
1807 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) II. 264 Sound flies..at the rate of about 1142 feet in 1 second.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto II xi. 124 The dashing spray Flies in one's face.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 106 Fragments of ice flying in all directions.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. xv. 100 Fleecy clouds flew over the heavens.
b. To leap or spring lightly, or vault over. to fly the garter: see fly-the-garter n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > cause to jump [verb (transitive)] > leap, spring, or jump over
leapc900
overleapeOE
freea1578
overjump1604
jump1609
overskip1629
fly1719
top1735
spring?a1775
clear1791
overbound1813
over1837
overspring1847
leap-frog1872
vault1884
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 273 Friday..flew over my outer Wall, or Fence.
1791 ‘G. Gambado’ Ann. Horsemanship vi. 29 When your horse has flown over a gate or a stile.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxvii. 406 Who..will ever employ a professional man, when they see his boy..flying the garter in the horse-road?
1897 N.E.D. at Fly Mod. He flew over two backs at once.
c. Of stairs: To descend or ascend without change of direction. Cf. flight n.1 7.
ΚΠ
1679 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. ix. 151 The stairs..sometimes wind, and sometimes fly off from that winding.
1690 W. Temple Ess. Gardens of Epicurus in Wks. (1731) I. 187 Many Steps flying on each Side of a Grotto.
1703 R. Neve City & Countrey Purchaser 248 Straight Stairs..are such as always fly, and never Wind.
5. transitive (causatively).
a. To cause (a kite) to rise and maintain its position in the air. Also colloquial or slang, to fly a kite: to raise money by an accommodation bill; also, to try something out; to act in an exploratory manner; hence to fly a bill; colloquial (chiefly U.S.), go fly a kite = ‘go away’, ‘be off’.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > other toys > [verb (transitive)] > fly kite
fly1739
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [verb (intransitive)] > use bills of exchange
redraw1697
to fly a kite1808
shave1832
to draw pig on (also upon) pork1846
to fly a bill1861
society > trade and finance > financial dealings > borrowing money > borrow money [verb (intransitive)] > borrow money by means of fictitious bills
to fly a kite1808
to fly a bill1861
1739 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 24 July (1932) (modernized text) II. 367 If you were to fly your kite.
1808 Sporting Mag. 32 181 In Ireland flying the kite is used as a cant phrase for raising money on accommodation bills.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. ii. 23 One of the amusements of the prisoners was flying kites.
1848 Punch 27 May 226/1 He never does ‘a little discounting’ nor lends his hand to ‘flying a kite’.
1861 A. Trollope Framley Parsonage II. xi. 218 Fly a bill, and let Tozer have it to get cash on it in the city!
1875 Ld. Tennyson Queen Mary i. v. 50 O Madam, You fly your thoughts like kites.
1928 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 7 Jan. 21/2 Now would you like for mamma to go on reading to you about this Polark soldier and his girl friend, or would you like to go fly a kite.
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 291/2 Fly a, the, kite,.. to test public opinion by tentative measures.
1942 ‘H. Pentecost’ I'll sing at your Funeral (1945) vii. 64 ‘He suggested,’ said Bradley, with a sigh, ‘that I go fly a kite!’
1951 C. P. Snow Masters xv. 137 At the beginning Brown had, as he used to say, ‘flown a kite’ for compromise, now Chrystal joined him.
1961 Lebende Sprachen 6 99/2 Go jump in the lake,..go fly a kite; DDT (drop dead twice).
1971 Nature 26 Feb. 584/1 The solution, the committee suggests—and it is plainly flying a kite and not laying down policy—may be a more selective way of choosing the departments to which studentships will be allocated.
b. To convey through the air. Also, to conduct or pilot (an aircraft).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > transport through the air [verb (transitive)]
fly1864
society > travel > air or space travel > action of flying (in) aircraft > fly an aircraft [verb (transitive)]
fly1902
pilot1911
aviate1959
1864 G. A. Sala in Daily Tel. 23 Dec. The first wires were flown across by means of a kite.
1902 Young Engineer 1 265/1 He, in his indignation, undertook to fly his ‘Illustrissimo’, as he termed his balloon, with the whole of the Holy Office.
1911 C. Grahame-White & H. Harper Aeroplane 264 A machine that..will require no more skill and nerve to fly it than does the driving of a car.
1917 Brit. Dominions Year Bk. 243 It calls for considerable courage..to fly heavy sea~planes a hundred miles or so inland.
1920 Act 10 & 11 George V c. 80 §10 (1) Where an aircraft is flown in such a manner as to be the cause of unnecessary danger.
1928 Manch. Guardian Weekly 21 Sept. 224/3 Señor Juan de la Cierva, the inventor,..flew one of these machines to Paris from Croydon on Tuesday.
1968 R. Miller & D. Sawers Technical Devel. Mod. Aviation iv. 99 The prototype DC-1 was flown.
c. slang. to fly the mags: see quots. to fly a tile, to knock off a man's hat.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > strike off with a blow > a person's hat
to fly a tile1819
slate1864
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > pitch and toss, etc. > play pitch and toss, etc. [verb (intransitive)]
chuck1733
to fly the mags1819
1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. 175 Fly the mags, to gamble, by tossing up halfpence.
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II. 158 Another point of amusement is flying a tile, or slating a man, as the phrases of the Stock Exchange describe it.
1834 W. H. Ainsworth Rookwood III. iii. xiii. 165 ‘Fly the mags,’..replied Rust; ‘if heads, we scrag him.’
d. colloquial. To send (a letter) hastily.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > sending items > send items [verb (transitive)] > hastily
fly1846
1846 C. Darwin in F. Darwin Life & Lett. C. Darwin (1887) I. 351 Immediately that I hear I will fly you a line.
1859 C. Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 160.
e. To convey by aircraft.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > transport by air > transport through the air [verb (transitive)] > by powered aircraft
fly1928
1928 Daily Express 18 May 2/6 More than £26,000,000 worth of gold coin and bullion has been flown in and out of Croydon during the past three years.
1930 C. R. Samson Fights & Flights 209 You will fly me to Calais, and I will repair 1241.
1958 ‘N. Shute’ Rainbow & Rose i. 17 You come to fly him out?
1971 Daily Tel. 9 Nov. 15/8 Cremation is taking place in Australia today. The ashes will be flown back to England.
6.
a. intransitive. Of something attached by one edge or end, esp. of a flag, hair, a garment, etc.: To float loosely; to flutter, wave. Cf. with flying colours at colour n.1 Phrases 9.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > wave in the wind
rotec1330
waive1338
waverc1440
wafterc1450
wave1487
to waver with or in the windc1503
streama1560
flaunt1576
wift1609
fly1659
waff1834
flare1837
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 271 The Antient-staff, about which the ships-colours do fly.
1659 B. Harris in tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age (ed. 2) Contin. 309 To..march with drums beating and colours flying.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey III. xiii. 272 Around her shoulders flew the waving vest.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 101 The wind did blow, the cloak did fly.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 214 Royals are set flying.
1797 Ld. Nelson 28 Nov. in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) II. 455 A Captain was appointed to the Ship in which my Pendant flew.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 71 Loose on the breeze their tresses flew.
1880 Ld. Tennyson Def. Lucknow i Banner of England..Flying at top of the roofs in the ghastly siege of Lucknow.
b. transitive. To set (a flag) flying; to carry at the mast-head; to hoist; occasionally with out. Also, To set (a sail) loosely: see quots.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [verb (transitive)] > fly or hoist flags, etc.
stretchc1400
to put outa1450
show1488
wear1558
to set out1573
to set up1585
to put abroad1625
fly1655
hoist1697
rehoist1765
run1815
1655 M. Carter Anal. Honor in Honor Rediv. 97 From which time ever since they flye that Crosse in their Banners.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 166 Flying of Sails, setting them in a loose manner; as royal sails without lifts.
1863 London Rev. 10 Jan. 37 To sink, burn, and destroy everything that flew the ensign of the so-called United States of America.
1885 Law Times 23 May 63/1 The steamship..flying signals of distress.
1887 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 5) VIII. 300 She flew out the signal—‘Farewell!’
1887 W. Besant World went very well Then I. i. 30 If they do fly the black flag, it is only [etc.].
7. † c. Of a stagecoach: To ‘run’. Obsolete.† d. quasi-transitive. To run over hurriedly. Obsolete. rare.† e. fly (a)round (chiefly U.S. colloquial): to bustle about, bestir oneself.
a. intransitive. To move or travel swiftly, pass rapidly, rush along. Also with about, along, away, back, etc. Of a fox: to break covert.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > part or go away in different directions
dealc1000
shedc1000
twin?c1225
departc1290
to-go13..
parta1325
severc1375
disseverc1386
to part companya1400
discontinue1576
to fall apart1599
flya1677
separate1794
dispart1804
split1843
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (intransitive)]
to stand, be (abide obs.) at bayc1314
to steal awayc1369
stalla1425
starta1425
rusec1425
beatc1470
lodgec1470
trason1486
rouse1532
angle1575
bolt1575
to take squat1583
baya1657
watch1677
fall1697
tree1699
to go away1755
to sink the wind1776
to get up1787
to go to ground1797
lie1797
to stand up1891
fly1897
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21280 And fleis þe furth [sc. fourth wheel] wit-vten blin.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. ii. 110 We..with swift cours flaw throw the salt see.
1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iii. f. 33v A whirlewynde..breakyng foorthe, flyeth rounde lyke a great cartewhyle.
a1577 G. Gascoigne Princelie Pleasures Kenelworth sig. A.vj, in Whole Wks. (1587) The fierie flames, which through the waues so flue.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xviii. 191 So fear'd The fair man'd horses that they flew back.
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. v. 56 A corrupt humour.., which flies unto the heart.
1703 N. Rowe Ulysses ii. i. 582 A Troop of Nymphs Flew lightly by us.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters i. 187 The pains..wander, shoot, and fly about, sometimes with astonishing swiftness.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 234 Six Gentlemen upon the road, Thus seeing Gilpin fly.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Day-dream in Poems (new ed.) II. 155 The colour flies into his cheeks.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 386 We fly from York..to London by the light of a single winter's day.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. i. 223 The velocity with which the earth flies through space.
1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leics. 132 He had never seen hounds fly along as they did now.
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 546/1 They force the fox through the cover in such a determined fashion as will make him ‘fly or die’.
1902 Daily Chron. 14 Nov. 8/5 The pack had to wait some time before they could get their fox to fly.
b. esp. of time. [With mixture of senses 1, 11; cf. fugit invida ætas.]
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > be transitory, fly past [verb (intransitive)]
speeda1400
unlasta1400
fleeta1542
flit1574
fly1609
spin1849
1609 W. Shakespeare Louers Complaint in Sonnets sig. K2v That..had let go by The swiftest houres obserued as they flew.
1712 A. Pope Messiah in Spectator No. 348 Swift fly the Years, and rise th' expected Morn!
1800–24 T. Campbell Song in Poems ii Time..Flies like a courser nigh the goal.
1847 L. Hunt Jar of Honey (1848) xii. 154 Time flies, and friends must part.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > public passenger transport > travel on (public vehicle) [verb (intransitive)] > ply on a certain route (of vehicle) > of stagecoach
fly1748
1748 St. James's Evening Post No. 6039 Dover, and Deal Stage-Coaches, will continue Flying till the First Day of October.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > cause to move swiftly [verb (transitive)] > move swiftly over
overspinnera1522
fly1589
overpost1600
course1793
career1830
1589 ‘M. Marprelate’ Hay any Worke for Cooper 41 Your..purciuantes flye citie & countrie to seeke for Waldegraue.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > be brisk or active > bustle
buskle1545
bustle1548
buffle1610
buzz1638
fettle1745
fluster1808
spufflea1825
fly (a)round1833
scrimmage1833
to come mumbudgeting1872
whew1873
spry1885
1833 S. Smith Life & Writings Major Jack Downing xxxvii. 142 I flew round, and washed my face and hands.
1833 J. Hall Legends of West 88 She flew around among the folks mighty peart.
1839 C. M. Kirkland New Home ii. 16 Come, gals! fly round, and let's git some supper.
1851 J. J. Hooper Night at Ugly Man's in Widow Rugby's Husband 44 Old 'ooman, fly around, git somethin' for the Squire and Dick to eat.
1871 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Fireside Stories 63 He flew round like a parched pea on a shovel.
f. to fly the coop: to escape or elope; to leave suddenly; to fly the track: to turn from the usual or expected course. U.S. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily
fleec825
runOE
swervea1225
biwevec1275
skip1338
streekc1380
warpa1400
yerna1400
smoltc1400
stepc1460
to flee (one's) touch?1515
skirr1548
rubc1550
to make awaya1566
lope1575
scuddle1577
scoura1592
to take the start1600
to walk off1604
to break awaya1616
to make off1652
to fly off1667
scuttle1681
whew1684
scamper1687
whistle off1689
brush1699
to buy a brush1699
to take (its, etc.) wing1704
decamp1751
to take (a) French leave1751
morris1765
to rush off1794
to hop the twig1797
to run along1803
scoot1805
to take off1815
speela1818
to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
absquatulize1829
mosey1829
absquatulate1830
put1834
streak1834
vamoose1834
to put out1835
cut1836
stump it1841
scratch1843
scarper1846
to vamoose the ranch1847
hook1851
shoo1851
slide1859
to cut and run1861
get1861
skedaddle1862
bolt1864
cheese it1866
to do a bunkc1870
to wake snakes1872
bunk1877
nit1882
to pull one's freight1884
fooster1892
to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892
smoke1893
mooch1899
to fly the coop1901
skyhoot1901
shemozzle1902
to light a shuck1905
to beat it1906
pooter1907
to take a run-out powder1909
blow1912
to buzz off1914
to hop it1914
skate1915
beetle1919
scram1928
amscray1931
boogie1940
skidoo1949
bug1950
do a flit1952
to do a scarper1958
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
to do a runner1980
to be (also get, go) ghost1986
1847 Congress. Globe 4 Feb. 322/2 I had been accused of flying the track on the creed of the Democratic party.
1901 ‘B. Burgundy’ Toothsome Tales (1902) 68 Chester..used to..toast her until she was on the edge of hysterics, then he'd fly the coop in quest of a new cargo of thirst~erasers.
1906 ‘O. Henry’ Four Million (1916) 123 She'll never regret flyin' the coop with Chunk McGowan.
1909 ‘O. Henry’ Options (1916) 157 One of them..‘roller-coasters’ flew the track and killed a man.
1966 H. Kemelman Saturday Rabbi went Hungry (1967) xxi. 206 This man..ran off, flew the coop, beat it.
8.
a. Of persons and animals: To move with a start or rush; to spring, start, hasten, rush. to fly to arms: to take up arms on a sudden. to fly in the face of: see face n. Phrases 5c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and suddenly
windc897
shootc1000
smite?c1225
flatc1300
lash13..
girda1400
shock?a1400
spara1400
spritc1400
whipc1440
skrim1487
glance1489
spang1513
whip1540
squirt1570
flirt1582
fly1590
sprunt1601
flame1633
darta1640
strike1639
jump1720
skite1721
scoot1758
jink1789
arrow1827
twitch1836
skive1854
sprint1899
skyhoot1901
catapult1928
slingshot1969
book1977
society > armed hostility > [verb (intransitive)] > begin hostilities
asty1297
to take weapon in handa1538
to raise one's standard1548
to rise in arms1563
to take (up) armsa1593
to break into arms1594
to unsheathe the sword1649
to take up the hatchet1694
to throw away the scabbard1704
to fly to arms1847
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > hurriedly
fly1881
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. B5 The Sarazin..Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies.
1768 L. Sterne Sentimental Journey I. 118 The bidet flew from one side of the road to the other.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 163 The calender..flew to the gate.
1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet I. xi. 245 The nag began to spring, and flee, and stend.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. vi. 42 In this dilemma he flew to his father.
1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 185 In a violent commotion, they had flown to arms.
1854 A. Manning Old Chelsea Bun-house (1855) vii. 116 She flew up-stairs, without at all regarding the trouble.
1881 S. R. Gardiner & J. B. Mullinger Introd. Study Eng. Hist. i. ii. 37 Danes and English were especially ready to fly apart.
b. to fly at, on, upon: to spring with violence upon, attack with fury, rush upon; literal and figurative. Also (rarely) transferred of inanimate objects.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > suddenly
bursta1400
to fly at, on, upon1549
sousea1616
snap1648
jump1789
to pounce on (or upon)1812
to jump on1868
raid1875
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 John iii. f. xlix He hath not thrust his sword in him..he hath not flowen vpon him.
1583 B. Rich Phylotus & Emelia (1835) 17 He seemed, as though he would haue fline vpon her in the streate.
1586 W. Warner Albions Eng. i. vi. 19 Whome Cerberus forsaking then at Hercules he flide.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Sam. xv. 19 Wherefore then didst thou..flie vpon the spoile. View more context for this quotation
1694 R. South 12 Serm. II. 637 When an enraged Conscience shall fly at him, and take him by the Throat.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. ix. 393 One of them flew on the fellow who had the sword.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. vii. ii. 30 You..never fly at your servants.
1808 ‘P. Plymley’ Two More Lett. on Catholics vi. 12 If you have..worried a mastiff dog for years..he flies at you whenever he sees you.
1834 Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) I. 250 My hammer has flown with redoubled force on the devoted blocks.
c1860 C. M. Yonge Strayed Falcon in Hist. Dramas No. 3 (Groombridge) 46 People came out of the dining-room, and Katie flew upon them.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. ix. 139 My sister with an exclamation of impatience was going to fly at me.
c. to fly in or into (a passion, rapture, etc.): to pass suddenly into (such a state).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [verb (transitive)]
waltc1540
to fly in or into1683
to flame out, upa1701
the mind > emotion > passion > affect with passion or strong emotion [verb (transitive)] > to pass suddenly into a state of
to fly in or into1683
1683 W. Hacke Coll. Orig. Voy. (1699) i. 32 Which made the other fly into a Passion with him.
1797 W. Scott Let. Sept. (1932) I. 69 Without flying into raptures..I may safely assure you, that [etc.].
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I liv. 30 She flew in a rage.
1887 R. N. Carey Uncle Max xxii. 176 I only flew into a passion, and asked her how [etc.].
d. to fly off: literal to start away; ‘to revolt’ (Johnson); figurative to take another course; to break away (from an agreement or engagement).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away suddenly or hastily
fleec825
runOE
swervea1225
biwevec1275
skip1338
streekc1380
warpa1400
yerna1400
smoltc1400
stepc1460
to flee (one's) touch?1515
skirr1548
rubc1550
to make awaya1566
lope1575
scuddle1577
scoura1592
to take the start1600
to walk off1604
to break awaya1616
to make off1652
to fly off1667
scuttle1681
whew1684
scamper1687
whistle off1689
brush1699
to buy a brush1699
to take (its, etc.) wing1704
decamp1751
to take (a) French leave1751
morris1765
to rush off1794
to hop the twig1797
to run along1803
scoot1805
to take off1815
speela1818
to cut (also make, take) one's lucky1821
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
absquatulize1829
mosey1829
absquatulate1830
put1834
streak1834
vamoose1834
to put out1835
cut1836
stump it1841
scratch1843
scarper1846
to vamoose the ranch1847
hook1851
shoo1851
slide1859
to cut and run1861
get1861
skedaddle1862
bolt1864
cheese it1866
to do a bunkc1870
to wake snakes1872
bunk1877
nit1882
to pull one's freight1884
fooster1892
to get the (also to) hell out (of)1892
smoke1893
mooch1899
to fly the coop1901
skyhoot1901
shemozzle1902
to light a shuck1905
to beat it1906
pooter1907
to take a run-out powder1909
blow1912
to buzz off1914
to hop it1914
skate1915
beetle1919
scram1928
amscray1931
boogie1940
skidoo1949
bug1950
do a flit1952
to do a scarper1958
to hit, split or take the breeze1959
to do a runner1980
to be (also get, go) ghost1986
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > reverse or abandon one's purpose [verb (intransitive)] > withdraw from an engagement or promise
starta1450
fang1522
recidivate1528
to draw back1572
flinch1578
to shrink collar1579
retract1616
to shrink out of the collar1636
renege1651
to fly off1667
to slip (the) collarc1677
to declare off1749
to cry off1775
to back out1807
to fight off1833
crawfish1848
welsh1871
to pull out1884
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 614 Strait they chang'd thir minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell. View more context for this quotation
1713 J. Addison Cato iv. 54 The traytor Syphax..Flew off at once with his Numidian Horse.
1785 F. Burney Diary 16 Dec. (1842) II. 371 I was..ready to fly off if any one knocked at the street-door.
1816 Sporting Mag. 48 173 From this agreement he flew off.
1864 W. H. Ainsworth John Law II. iii. ii. 55 Were I to ask for time, [Nicomède] would inevitably fly off, and the affair would come to an end.
e. to fly out: (a) to spring out, come out suddenly; to rush out; (b) to ‘explode’ or burst out into extravagance in conduct, language, or temper. Const. against, at, upon (an object); into (action, language, feeling, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > be or become affected with passion [verb (intransitive)] > (be ready to) burst out
anburstc1275
boilc1386
to fly outc1400
flamea1591
flush1601
overboil1611
burst1633
bust1705
outblazea1711
explode1834
the world > action or operation > behaviour > other specific behaviour > [verb (intransitive)] > burst into extravagant conduct
to fly outc1400
the mind > emotion > anger > manifestation of anger > show anger [verb (intransitive)] > explode with or give vent to anger
to fly outc1400
to flame out, upa1701
explode1834
detonate1836
plotzc1920
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and suddenly > out
outstartc1380
to fly outc1400
jaculate1860
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > fly out
outflyeOE
to fly out1779
(a)
(b)1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 84 Upon his..oath never more to fly out, is pardoned.1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iv. x. 498 Impatient..of their conjugall disappointments, fly out into open contestations.1668 S. Pepys Diary 13 Nov. (1976) IX. 359 I was troubled..to hear my Lord fly out against their great pretence of merit from the King.1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (1693) 616 To fly out or squander his estate.1779 F. Burney Let. Nov. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 417 He constrained himself from flying out as long as he was able.1865 Cornhill Mag. Oct. 390 I beg your pardon for flying out upon you so.1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 130 Another friend..has flown out to me at the action of the Radicals.1884 R. W. Church Bacon iii. 62 She thought of the possibility of his flying out unexpectedly..and attempting to serve her interests, not in her way, but in his own.c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (1839) iv. 27 There fleigh out an Eddere right hidous to see.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. xi. 19 My valors poison'd, With onely suff'ring staine by him: for him Shall flye out of it selfe.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xiv. 43 Eighty Mahometans came flying out from under their hatches.
1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World iv. 158 Without flying out of the bounds which they had prescrib'd to themselves.
9.
a. Of things: To be forced or driven off suddenly or with a jerk; to start. Of a limb: To be parted suddenly from the body. Const. from, out of. Also to send flying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > [verb (intransitive)] > be driven off suddenly
flyc1400
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > maiming or mutilation > be maimed or mutilated [verb (intransitive)]
flyc1400
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > off suddenly
thrill1606
spring1665
fly1676
spanghew1781
to send flying1879
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 459 Þat þe fyr of þe flynt flaȝe fro fole houes.
c1440 Generydes 2670 Mi swerd out of myn hond fligh.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 115 He raucht till him sic a dynt Yat arme and schuldyr flaw him fra.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) xlvi. 153 His hede flewe fro hys sholders.
1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. C1 From the could stone sparkes of fire doe flie . View more context for this quotation
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 427 Then flyes in his face all his whoring, swearing, lying.
1683 E. Waller Invasion of Turks 23 He Bassas' heads, to save his own, made fly.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery xvi. 143 Let it stand an Hour before you open it, lest it fly in your Face.
1847 W. T. Porter Big Bear of Arkansas 132 Thar, they've got him agin, and now the fur flies.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xx. 49 ‘Oughter see how old Mas'r made the flesh fly.’
1879 F. T. Pollok Sport Brit. Burmah II. 149 Up would go the elephant's hind leg, sending the pig flying.
1885 Spectator 30 May 698/2 The engine minder who goes to the parish doctor because a spark has flown in his eye.
b. figurative. Of money: To be rapidly spent.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > spend or incur expense [verb (intransitive)] > be spent > rapidly
flya1626
a1626 W. Rowley New Wonder (1632) 11 Marry her, and let her estate fly.
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 61 Edward Earle of Oxford, (who set his Patrimony flying).
1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 97 In this resolve she lets her Treasure fly.
1840 Lady C. M. C. Bury Hist. Flirt iv I shall certainly make his money fly.
c. With various adverbs, about, back, off, out, up, etc. †to fly off: (of cannon) to be fired.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > operate artillery [verb (intransitive)] > be discharged
play1591
to fly off1650
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 1769 (MED) Þe fire flaghe out with þonder and raine.
c1430 Syr. Gener. (Roxb.) 5934 Of his sheld floy of a grete cantel.
c1460 Launfal 473 The erl of Chestere..smot hym the helm on hegh That the crest adoun flegh.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. D8v From their shields forth flyeth firie light.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII v. i. 112 My Chaffe And Corne shall flye asunder. View more context for this quotation
1650 J. Howell tr. A. Giraffi Hist. Revol. Naples (1664) i. 117 The Vice-roy..caus'd all the ordnance to flie off.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xvi. 55 The dog struck her over the head with his hatchet till her brains flew out.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 15 They..cannot agree together, but fly back from each other.
1680 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. x. 177 The Tool will..fly off where a Knot..comes to the Tool.
1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 41 Which..by spouting out, will make the Water fly about.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 107 Lowering her Main-Yard: the Tack flew up.
1713 G. Berkeley in Guardian 5 Aug. 1/1 The Earth..without flying off in a Tangent Line, constantly rolls about the Sun.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 349 The ice shivering with the violence of the strain..the anchor flew out.
d. causative and quasi-transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > impel or drive [verb (transitive)] > off suddenly
thrill1606
spring1665
fly1676
spanghew1781
to send flying1879
1676 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum 112 The Liquor were better fly the Cork than break the Bottle.
1876 G. Meredith Beauchamp's Career II. vi. 108 The ship in the Arabian tale coming within the zone of the magnetic mountain, flies all its bolts and bars, and becomes sheer timbers.
e. intransitive. Of a door or window: To be thrown suddenly open, to, up, etc. Rarely transitive (slang), to throw up (a window).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > become open [verb (intransitive)] > spring or burst open
flusha1300
unspringa1400
leap1477
to break up1528
burst1590
fly1633
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts ii. iii. sig. E4v I..To whom great Countesses dores haue oft flew open.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 110 Up flew the windows all.
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 146 At unawares, Self-moved fly-to the doors.
1857 R. L. Snowden Magistrate's Assistant (ed. 3) 447 To lift a window, to fly a window.
1870 W. Thornbury Tour Eng. I. ii. 36 The dark prison doors flew open at the first chink of the gold.
1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson Dynamiter ii. 10 The door flew back emitting clouds of smoke.
f. to fly in pieces, or simply to fly: to break up suddenly, shiver, split up. †to fly on fire: to burst into flames.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (intransitive)] > shatter or break to pieces or burst
to-burstc893
forbursta1000
springOE
to-flyc1000
to-shootc1000
to-springc1000
to-drevea1225
to-resea1225
to-breakc1230
to go shiversc1275
to-drivec1275
to-rivec1275
to-shenec1275
to-wendc1275
debruise1297
lash13..
to-dashc1300
to-scatter13..
to-shiver13..
shiverc1330
bequash1377
shinderc1390
brasta1400
bursta1400
to-shiderc1450
to fly in pieces1488
sprent1488
splindera1500
reavec1560
dishiver1562
shatter1567
disshiver1586
split1590
slent1608
besplit1638
disrupt1657
splintera1661
rupture1734
explode1784
to ding in staves1786
to break, knock etc., or go, to smash1798
spell1811
to go (also run) smash1818
to play smash1841
bust1844
splitter1860
disrump1886
to fall into staves1895
smash1904
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > burning > burn or be on fire [verb (intransitive)] > catch fire or begin to burn
quicka1225
kindle?c1225
tindc1290
atend1398
to catch fire (also afire, on fire)c1400
quickenc1425
enkindle1556
fire1565
to set on fire1596
take1612
catch1632
conflagrate1657
to fly on fire1692
to go up1716
deflagrate1752
flagrate1756
inflame1783
ignite1818
to fire up1845
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 50 Bayn and brayn he gert in pecis fle.
1630 P. Massinger Renegado i. iii. sig. C4 This pure metall..rather Then hold one drop that's venemous, of it selfe It flies in peces.
1692 J. Ray Misc. Disc. Dissolution World iv. 29 All the moisture will at length be drawn out, and the World fly on fire.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 57 Lest crack'd with Summer Heats the flooring flies. View more context for this quotation
1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World vii. 237 It rent and split and flew like glass.
1766 O. Goldsmith Ballad [the Hermit] in Vicar of Wakefield I. viii. 72 The crackling faggot flies.
1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §1461 If..the first time of using the heat is raised rapidly, they are certain to crack or ‘fly’.
g. Nautical. Of the wind: To shift or veer suddenly. Also with about, off. Of a ship, her head: to fly to, up in, into the wind (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > blow (of the wind) [verb (intransitive)] > blow from a particular quarter > change direction > suddenly
chopa1642
fly1699
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. iii. 25 The Winds fly in a moment quite round the Compass.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. iv. 27 About Mid-Day they fly off 2, 3 or 4 Points further from the Land.
1855 J. Ogilvie Suppl. Imperial Dict. Fly, To fly about. Among seamen, the wind is said to fly about, when it changes frequently during a short space of time.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. at Fly-up To fly up in the wind, is when a ship's head comes suddenly to windward, by carelessness of the helmsman.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. at Fly-up Flying-to is when a vessel..is coming to the wind rapidly, the warning is given to the helmsman, ‘Look out, she is flying-to’.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 232 The ship is sure to fly up into the wind.
h. Baseball. To hit a fly-ball (fly n.2 Compounds 2). Chiefly with out. (Past tense usually flied.)
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (intransitive)] > types of hit
bunt1889
fungo1889
fly1893
sacrifice1905
triple1908
pinch-hit1911
homer1912
single1916
squeeze bunt1952
1893 Chicago Tribune 3 July 7/3 Kittridge flied out to Brodie.
1904 St. Louis Globe-Democrat 4 July 12/3 Wallace flew to Lush for the third out.
1912 C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch ix. 202 Sheckard flied out to Seymour, Kling being held on second base.
1948 Durant (Okla.) Daily Democrat 2 July 4/4 Baker then flied to center and neither runner was able to advance.
10. to let fly v.
a. To discharge (missiles).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > project through space
to let flyOE
shootc1290
bolta1420
dischargec1500
speeda1569
outshoota1586
emit1711
wing1718
wise1721
arrow1796
wing1970
bomb-
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > assail with missiles [verb (transitive)] > discharge (missile)
sendc825
to let flyOE
slenga1300
castc1325
lancec1330
throwa1382
launch?a1400
whirlc1440
fling1487
dischargec1500
to let goc1500
streek1513
deliver1574
level1592
fire1887
OE Judith 221 Hie ða fromlice leton forð fleogan flana scuras, hildenædran, of hornbogan.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 479 An lamech droge is arwe ner, And letet flegen of ðe streng.
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 125 At that an Egg, let fly, Hit him directly o're the eye.
1832 H. Martineau Life in Wilds v. 58 He let fly one of his precious arrows.
b. absol. To fire, shoot; also said occasionally of a gun. Also, to make an attack (with any weapon).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (intransitive)]
to lay ona1225
assailc1325
sailc1330
assemblea1375
to fall inc1384
to fall ona1387
givec1430
brunt1440
to set (all) on sevenc1440
to ding on1487
to fall down1534
offend1540
to go on1553
to give on?1611
to let fly1611
strikea1616
insult1638
to set on1670
aggress1708
to carry the war into the enemy's camp1791
hop over1929
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make attack [verb (intransitive)]
onreseeOE
onslayc1275
entera1425
to be upon (also on) a person's jack1588
endeavour?1589
to fall aboard1591
to let fly1611
strikea1616
to lift (up) the hand(s, (occasionally one's arm)1655
to fall on board (of)1658
tilt1708
to walk into ——1794
to run in1815
to peg it1834
to sail in1856
to wade in1863
to light in1868
to roll into ——1888
to make for ——1893
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)]
to let fly1611
gun1622
fire1635
pop1650
pluff1826
squib1831
crack1835
poop1915
loose1928
to turn on (or give) the heat1928
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > of gun: go off or fire
fire1542
discharge1565
shoota1575
go1598
to let fly1611
scatter1736
poop1915
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Pied Jouër a quattre pieds contre, to kicke, winse, or let fly at with all foure.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iii. vi. 62 We let fly amongst them so that they fled.
1686 J. S. Hist. Monastical Convent. 185 Then..the Cannon of the Castle let fly.
a1735 G. Granville Ess. Unnat. Flights Poetry 55 The noisy culverin, o'ercharg'd, lets fly.
1879 F. T. Pollok Sport Brit. Burmah II. 41 I let fly again, and this time killed it.
c. figurative (transitive and absol.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make attack [verb (intransitive)] > attack with words, etc.
to let fly1590
to fall aboard1591
to hit out1856
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > emit
send971
stretchc1275
casta1300
sheda1325
manda1350
to throw outa1413
yielda1450
devoida1475
render1481
reflair1509
sup out1513
to give out1530
utter1536
spout1568
to give fortha1586
to let fly1590
to put out1614
eject1616
evacuate1622
ejaculate1625
emit1626
fling1637
outsend1647
exert1660
extramit1668
exclude1677
emane1708
extromita1711
evolve1772
emanate1797
discharge1833
exsert1835
to give off1840
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. ix. sig. Ll8v Many false belgardes at her let fly.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 24 A Member of the House of Commons let fly this reply.
1678 Spanish Hist. 180 And to take all pretext from those who by ignorance or malice let flye against me.
1859 Punch 6 Aug. 54/1 Lord Lyndhurst, at whom it pleased Mr. Bright to scoff..let fly at that respected Quaker.
1887 W. Besant World Went xvi. 135 He let fly a round dozen or so of sailors' oaths.
d. Nautical. To allow (a sail or sheet) to fly loose; rarely to set (a sail), to carry, hoist (colours).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military organization > insignia > carry or wear insignia [verb (intransitive)] > carry or hoist colours
to let fly1627
society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [verb (intransitive)] > fly or hoist flags, etc.
to let fly1627
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > set or spread (sails) > unfurl
unwrap1582
to let fly1627
unfurl1717
devolve1765
break1889
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > trim sails > allow to fly loose
to let fly1627
1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ix. 39 When we say, let fly the sheats, then they let go amaine, which commonly is in some gust.
1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 297 If they finde them unwilling to bee spoke with all, Frigots let flye all the sails that ever they can make.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. i. iii. 48 It is the custom of our Countrymen aboard [sic], to let fly their Colours on Sundays.
1805 E. Berry in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. 118 I then let fly the top-gallant sheets.
II. In senses of flee v. (Now in present stem only: see the remarks under flee v.)
11. † f. To escape the notice of. Cf. flee v. 9. Obsolete. rare.
a. = flee v. 1a, 1b, and flee v. 1d. Also quasi-transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > run away or flee
fleec825
afleeeOE
atrina1000
atfleec1000
to run awayOE
to turn to or into flighta1225
to turn the ridgec1225
atrenc1275
atshakec1275
to give backa1300
flemec1300
startc1330
to take (on oneself) the flighta1500
to take the back upon oneselfa1500
fly1523
to take (also betake) (oneself) to one's legs1530
to flee one's way1535
to take to one's heels1548
flought?1567
fuge1573
to turn taila1586
to run off1628
to take flighta1639
refugea1641
to run for it1642
to take leg1740
to give (also take) leg-bail1751
bail1775
sherry1788
to pull foot1792
fugitate1830
to tail off (out)1830
to take to flight1840
to break (strike, etc.) for (the) tall timber1845
guy1879
to give leg (or legs)1883
rabbit1887
to do a guy1889
high-tail1908
to have it on one's toes1958
a1000 Battle of Maldon 275 Þæt he nolde fleogan fotmæl landes.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxxxvi. 334 For to dye in the place they wyll nat flye one fote.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. cciiiiv Syr Robert was exhortyng..hys men..which were..redy to flye.
1594 Willobie his Auisa xlvii. f. 43v Nor flye the field though she deny.
a1627 T. Middleton et al. Widdow (1652) i. i. 6 Ile make him fly the land.
1662 A. Wood Life & Times (1891) I. 462 Flying the realme at the king's returne.
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. iii. 208 Those that fly, may fight again.
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Mark ii. 2 Honour flies from them that pursue it.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. i. 35 Hence on thy Life, and fly these hostile Plains.
1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VI. l. 224 Sisygambis refused to fly.
1855 W. M. Thackeray Rose & Ring xi You must fly the country for a while.
b. = flee v. 2a and 2c. Const. into, to, †unto.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > make safe or secure [verb (transitive)] > go to for safety
fleec825
to draw to warrantc1330
flya1400
to have or make (one's) refuge toa1538
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 6675 If he to min auter fly.
1584 H. Llwyd & D. Powel Hist. Cambria 5 Being in the Battle..and Flieng to the wood.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxi. 76 Unless upon..the new Moons, one fly into the Ports for shelter.
a1711 T. Ken Anodynes in Wks. (1721) III. 409 When Pangs..disturb my Sleep, To various Anodynes I fly.
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. viii. 641 It was to the English he must have flown for protection.
c. = flee v. 3 and 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 4 Delightes, from which a great manie men flie.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 48 All [sc. the inhabitants]..flie away in Summer to auoid the intolera[b]le heat.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey II. v. 60 He [Hermes] grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna xi. vii. 240 I cannot reach thee! whither dost thou fly?
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 73 He grows like evil men, and is compelled to fly from the company of the good.
d. = flee v. 5 (Said of a shadow, colour, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > be or become invisible [verb (intransitive)] > vanish or disappear
formeltc893
wendOE
witea1000
aworthc1000
fleec1200
fleetc1200
withdraw1297
vanish1303
voidc1374
unkithea1400
startc1405
disappearc1425
disparishc1425
to fall awayc1443
evanish?a1475
vade1495
sinka1500
vade1530
fly1535
fadea1538
melt?1567
dispear1600
relinquish1601
foist1603
dispersea1616
to vanish (melt, etc.) into thin aira1616
dissipate1626
retire1647
evaporate1713
merge1802
illude1820
to foam off1826
dislimn1833
furl1844
to step out1844
evanesce1855
shade1880
wisp1883
to go to the winds1884
walk1898
to do a disappearing act1913
to go west1916
to do (or take) a fade1949
to phase out1970
the world > time > duration > shortness or brevity in time > swift movement of time > be transitory, fly past [verb (intransitive)] > of a shadow, colour, etc.
fly1535
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Job xiv. 2 He [man] flyeth as it were a shadowe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. ii. 201 Loue like a shadow flies, when substance Loue pursues. View more context for this quotation
1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais lii. 24 Heaven's light forever shines, Earth's shadows fly.
a1861 E. B. Browning My Heart & I ii As if such colors could not fly.
e. transitive. = flee v. 7, 8 †to fly the heels (see quot. 1727).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > avoid or shun
overboweOE
bibughOE
fleea1000
forbowa1000
ashun1000
befleec1000
beflyc1175
bischunc1200
withbuwe?c1225
waive1303
eschew1340
refuse1357
astartc1374
sparec1380
shuna1382
void1390
declinea1400
forbeara1400
shurna1400
avoidc1450
umbeschewc1485
shewe1502
evite1503
devoid1509
shrink1513
schew?a1534
devite1549
fly1552
abstract1560
evitate1588
estrange1613
cut1791
shy1802
skulk1835
side-slip1930
to walk away from1936
punt1969
1552 H. Latimer Serm. 3rd Sunday Epiph. Fruitful Serm. (1584) 312 b Haue an earnest desire to leaue sinne, and to flye the same.
1583 G. Babington Very Fruitfull Expos. Commaundem. ix. 455 Flie to heare as thou wouldest flie to speake what tendeth vnto slander.
1635 A. Stafford Femall Glory 65 Though he be ambitious of dignities..yet (to be reputed humble) he seems to flie them.
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II. (at cited word) To Fly the Heels..a Term used of a Horse, when he obeys the Spur.
1754 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) iv. 27 Fly with abhorrence and contempt superstition and enthusiasm.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 241 True pity..flies the rich, it flies the vain.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > escape the attention of
overpass1535
overslip1574
overscape1581
fly?1611
slip1653
to get away1811
miss1880
?1611 G. Chapman in tr. Homer Iliads xvi. Comm. It flies all his translators and interpreters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
flyv.2
/flʌɪ/, U.S. /flaɪ/ 1.
a. intransitive. To travel by a fly.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport by vehicles plying for hire > [verb (intransitive)] > travel by cab or taxi > travel by fly
fly1836
1836 R. Southey Let. to Miss K. Southey 25 Nov. (1856) IV. 476 We flied..over Quantock to Stowey.
b. transitive. To convey in a fly.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > transport by vehicles plying for hire > [verb (transitive)] > convey in hackney cab > convey in a fly
fly1836
1836 R. Southey Let. to Miss K. Southey 25 Nov. (1856) IV. 478 Poole flied us all the way to Sir T. Acland's Somersetshire seat.
2. Printing. To do the office of a fly (see fly n.1 6) or fly-boy to. to fly the frisket (see quot.). to fly the sheet: to lift it, by holding it at one end, into the printing machine; as opposed to stroking it in. Also, in U.S. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing 172/2 Fly the Frisket, to turn down the frisket and tympan by the same motion.
1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing at Fly-boy 172/2 When..it is requisite that boys should assist in taking the printed sheets, one by one, from the form or the press, this operation is called flying the sheets.
3. In the Hardware trades: To stamp or cut out by means of a fly (fly n.2 5i). Also with out.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1c950n.2OE
adj.1811
v.1OE
v.21836- fullyclothed
- fullyequipped
- fullyfashioned
- fullyfitted
- fullyfledged
- fullyformed
- fullygrown
- fullymanned
- fullytrained
- fulmar
- fulmar petrel
- fulmars
- fulmen
- fulminancy
- fulminant
- fulminants
- fulminate
- fulminated
- fulminates
- fulminating
- fulminating damp
- fulminating gold
- fulminating mercury
- fulminating pane
- fulminating powder