A contemptuous synonym of FIGURE-CASTER 1.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1271. Simon Penbrooke … a figureflinger, and vehementlie suspected to be a coniurer.
1652–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1674), 113/1. Every Astrolagaster or Figure-flinger was called a Chaldean.
1712. Hearne, Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), III. 407. Mr. Gadbury the Figure Flinger mentions the Custom in one of his Almanacks.
So Figure-flinging vbl. sb. = FIGURE-CASTING.
1622. J. Boys, Wks., 736. Not by starre-gazing, or figure-flinging, or conjuring, or any curious Art.
1652. Gaule, Πῦς-μαντία, the Mag-astro-mancer, 60. A fantasticall figure-flinging.
1723. Hearne, in Rem., 1 July (ed. 2), II. 165. Being much addicted to astrology, he gave over his trade and set up the trade of figure flinging and publishing of almanacks.
