Also 6 flownse, 7 flownce. [f. FLOUNCE v.1]
1. A sudden fling or jerk of the body or a limb; a plunging or flopping movement.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 50. Thee water is rowsed, they [two serpents] doe frisk with flownse to the shoare ward.
1802. M. Moore, Lascelles, III. 36. The instrument was lodged in the shark’s body, which, after several dreadful flounces, sunk.
1810. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 144. If, indeed, we choose to place ourselves within the scope of their tether, a gripe of the paw, or flounce of the tail, may be our fortune.
1863. Barnes, Dorset Gloss., Flounce, a flying stroke.
b. A splash.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 193. The Mariner that kep watch, as soone as he heard the flownce of the fall, presently cried out Hombre a la mar.
2. A quick movement of the body, expressing impatience or disdain.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 182, 14 Dec., ¶ 12. He sometimes presumed to mention Marriage; but was always answered with a Slap, a Hoot, and a Flounce.
1878. Mrs. Stowe, Poganuc People, i. 5. Nabby turned her batch of dough over with a final flounce, as if to emphasize the statement.
