[f. FLUTE v. + -ER1. Cf. OF. fleuteur.]

1

  1.  One who plays on the flute; a flute-player. Now rare; replaced by FLUTIST or FLAUTIST.

2

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 763.

        Ther mightest thou see these floutours,
Minstrales and eek Iogelours.

3

1570.  Levins, Manip., 73. A Fluter, aulœdus.

4

1666.  Pepys, Diary, 21 June. I saw, in a gold frame, a picture of a fluter playing on his flute, which, for a good while, I took for painting, but at last observed it was a piece of tapestry, and is the finest that ever I saw in my life for figures.

5

1796.  W. Taylor, in Monthly Rev., XXI. 499. Not a single fluter was to be found in the temple; for the whole band had retired to Tibur.

6

1856.  Masson, Ess., Th. of Poetry, 440. You, fluter, with your silver flute!

7

  2.  One who makes flutings or grooves.

8

1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Fluter, one who grooves or channels metals; a flautist; a person who goffers or plaits.

9

  Hence † Fluteress, a female flute-player.

10

1611.  Cotgr., Fleuteuse, a fluteresse; a woman that playes on a flute.

11