v. Obs. exc. dial. [ME. flakeren (possibly repr. OE. *flacorian; cf. flacor adj., flying, fluttering, and flicorian FLICKER v.), corresponding to MDu. flackeren, ON. flǫkra to flutter (Da. flagre), MHG. vlackern (mod.G. flackern) to flicker; a frequentative f. the onomatopœic stemy flak-: see FLACK v.
The OHG. flagorôn, Flemish vlaggheren (Kilian) to flutter, may be compared as parallel onomatopœic formations.]
1. intr. To flap, flutter, throb; esp. of birds, to flap the wings, to fly flutteringly. In mod. dial. also trans. To flap (the wings) (Whitby Gloss.).
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1410. Foles in foler flakerande bitwene.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. vi. 2. From aboue flakred the Seraphins.
1631. R. H., Arraignm. Whole Creature, xviii. 321. As two Birds, that are flackering, and flying at the two ends of a threed.
1785. [Hutton], Bran New Wark, 75 (E.D.S.). How strangely the mind of man flackers and flounces?
1877. Holderness Gloss., s.v., ‘Ther was a lot o’ bods altegither, an didn’t they flacker, mun, when Ah let gun off amang em?’
† 2. = FLATTER v. Obs. rare–1. (Perh. a corrupt reading; cf. however the similar sense of FLICKER v.).
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 222. Men … þet flakereð [v.r. faltreð, flattereð] hire of freolac.
Hence Flackering vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxvi. 100 (Harl. MS.). Þe Faucon seynge this, makethe a flakeryng with his wynges.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., VIII. (1593), 192.
| Within the compasse of this pond great store of Oysyers grew: | |
| And Sallowes lithe, and flackring Flags, and moorish Rushes eke, | |
| And lazie Reedes on little shankes, and other baggage like. |
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss. ‘A flackering at the heart,’ a throbbing at the breast.
