fleer
1 of 2verb
ˈflir 
fleered; fleering; fleers
intransitive verb
: to laugh or grimace in a coarse derisive manner : sneer
fleeringly
ˈflir-iŋ-lē
adverb fleer
2 of 2noun
archaic
: a word or look of derision or mockery
Did you know?
Fleer first appeared in English as a verb (fleryen in Middle English) meaning "to laugh, grin, or grimace in a coarse manner." The verb is of Scandinavian origin and is akin to the Norwegian flire, meaning "to giggle." The noun fleer first and most famously appeared in William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, in which the evil Iago invites Othello to observe the signs of his wife's unfaithfulness in the visage of her supposed lover, Cassio: "And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns / That dwell in every region of his face…."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Fitzpatrick, Philly.com, 25 June 2017
Noun
Fleer's plant - a long, brick building along the railroad tracks near North 10th Street in Olney - stood just blocks from my parents' rowhouse. Frank Fitzpatrick, Philly.com, 25 June 2017 Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English fleryen, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flire to giggle
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1604, in the meaning defined above
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