Sc. [onomatopœic; cf. FLAP.]

1

  1.  intr. To flap, make a flapping; to flutter. Of the lungs or heart: To pant or throb.

2

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XII. xiii. 175.

        This vengeabill wraik, in sik form changit thus,
Evyn in the face and vissage of Turnus
Can fle and flaf.

3

1786.  Burns, Addr. of Beelzebub, 47.

        Flaffan wi’ duds an’ grey wi’ beas’,
Frightin’ awa your deucks an’ geese [etc.].

4

1815.  G. Beattie, John o’ Arnha’, in Life (1863), 252.

        The watchfu’ mate flaff’d i’ the gale
Wi’ eerie screech and plaintive wail.

5

1880.  Antrim & Down Gloss., Flaff, to flutter or flap.

6

  2.  trans. To flap (the wings).

7

1827.  W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d, 5.

        Thou … flaff’d thy wings, and in a crack
  Flew frae th’ unsicker stance!

8

  Hence Flaffing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

9

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. vii. 63.

        That all the blayd, vp to the hylt and hand,
Amyd hys flaffand longis [in tumido pulmone] hyd hes he.

10

1584.  Hudson, Du Bartas’ Judith, 708.

        Then doubt not you a thousand flaffing flags,
Nor horrible cries of hideous heathen hags.

11

1833.  D. M. Moir, Mansie Wauch, xii. 79. I was seized with a severe shaking of the knees, and a flaffing at the heart.

12