Fly v.¹

Pa. t. flew; pa. pple. flown. Forms: Infin. 1 fléoȝ-an (Mercian fléȝ-an, north. fléȝa, Kent. flíoȝan), 2–3 fleo(n, flon, (3 fleoin, south. vleoin), fli(en, 3 fleȝ(h)en, Orm. fleȝhenn, 3–4 flei(e, fliȝe(n, flihen, flyhen, south. vliȝen, vlien, 4–6 fley(e, (4 fleeȝ, fleighe, fleiȝ, 5 flegh), 3–5 fleen, 3–6 fle, (4 south. vle), 4–7 flie, flye, (4 south. vlie, vly, 5 flyyn), 4– (now only Sc.) flee, 5– fly. Pa t. α. sing. 1 fléaȝ, fléah, fléȝ, 2–3 fleh, 3 fleah, flæh, 3–4 flagh(e, flaȝe, 4–6 flaw(e, 3–5 flegh(e, fleȝ(e, flei(g)h, fleyghe, fleȝ, fligh, fly. β. pl. 1 fluȝon, 2–3 floȝe(n, fluȝen, 3 fluwen, 3–4 flow(e)n. γ. sing. 3–5 flough(e, 4–5 flou, flow, 5 floȝe, floy. δ. sing. and pl. 5–6 flewe, (6 flue), 5– flew. Pa. pple. 1 floȝen, 3 floȝen, 4–6 flowe(n, (5 flone, floon, 6 fleen, flighen), 6–7 fline, flyen, flowne, (7–8 flew), 6– flown. Also weak pa. t. (rare and chiefly for rime): 4 flyghed, 5, 7 flyde, 7 flide, flied, flyed. [A com. Teut. str. vb. OE. fléoȝan, flíoȝan = OFris. fliaga, OS. *fliogan (MDu. vlieghen, Da. vliegen) = OHG. fliogan (MHG. vliegen, Ger. fliegen), ON. fljúga (Sw. flyga, Da. flyve), Goth. *fliugan (inferred from (us)flaugjan to lead forth in flight):—OTeut. *fleugan (flaug, flugum, flogono-):—pre-Teut. *pleugh-, plough-, plugh-. Not etymologically cognate with FLEE v.

  The α forms of pa.t. normally represent, according to period and dialect, the OE. fléaȝ, fléah, and the β forms the OE. pl. fluȝon. The γ forms are transferred to the sing. from the pl. and the pa.pple. The origin of the δ form flew(e, which now alone survives, is more difficult to account for; possibly it arose from a confusion with FLOW (OE. pa.t. fléow), with which this vb. had in the 15th c. come to coincide in the pa.pple.; cf. however the somewhat similar phenomenon in the vb. slay, pa. t. slew, for which no parallel explanation can be given.

  With regard to the confusion between the verbs fly and flee, see FLEE.]

  I.  1. intr. To move through the air with wings. Also with adverbs, as about, away, forth, off, out, etc. As the crow flies: see CROW sb.¹ 3 c.

Beowulf, 2273 (Gr.).

a. 1000.  Judith, 209 (Gr.).

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 129. Alle þe fuȝelas þe fluȝen bi þam lufte.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 5991. Forr ærn maȝȝ heȝhe fleȝhenn.

c. 1205.  Lay., 3901.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 29.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13449 (Gött.). Ne nane þat mai fli sua hei [als þe arn].

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 305. Als fleihes doun þei fleih, ten þousand at ones.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. vi. 6. Ther fleiȝ to me oon of the serafyn.

c. 1430.  Lydg., Min. Poems, 186.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. lli. (1869), 95. I fly a boue þe skyes heyere þan eyþer heroun or egret.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., xix. 335 (Add. MS.). The bridde had herd this, he flew [Camb. MS. fly] forthe.

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxii. 105.

1533.  Anne Boleyn’s Coronat., in Furniv., Ballads from MSS., I. 391.

a. 1649.  Drumm. Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 13.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 159, 1 Sept., ¶ 8. I wished for the Wings of an Eagle, that I might fly away to those happy Seats; but the Genius told me there was no Passage to them, except through the Gates of Death that I saw opening every Moment upon the Bridge.

1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St. Pierre’s Studies of Nature (1799), I. 580. On my approaching him, he [a butterfly] flew off.

1822.  Shelley, Calderon, I. 46.

  b.  fig.; esp. of fame, a report, etc. To fly high (or a high pitch): to aim at or reach a high pitch of action, feeling, etc. (cf. FLIGHT sb. 3). Also To fly low: to avoid notoriety. To fly short of: to fail in mounting to the level of.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 165. Alse þe fugeles … swo doð þis mannisse flieð fram iuele to werse.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 152. Bi nihte beo fleoinde ant sechinde ouwer soule heouenliche uode.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 1028. Wenged wondres faste fleen.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 39. Charlemayne made a grete assemble of men of armes, soo that the renomme therof floughe vnto the duke.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Luke iv. 55. The fame which had to fore (as ye would saye) flighen abrode but among a fewe persones in comparison, concernyng Iesus, was than published and bruited abrode throughout al that region.

1571.  Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 125. The prosperous successes of Earle Richard, were no sooner effected, but fame flyed abroad.

a. 1592.  H. Smith, Serm. (1866), II. 14. As a man will be more wary to try every piece of gold, when he sees many counterfeit and Flemish angels to fly abroad; so when ye see many sorts of doctrine crawling daily like locusts out of the bottomless pit, ye must be more diligent to taste and try which is sound and sincere.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents (1658), 706. Iupiter the Heathens great God, is said to be metamorphised into a Dragon, whereof their flyeth this tale.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., III. v. 61.

1611.  Bible, Ps. xc. 10. Yet is their strength labour and sorrow: for it is soone cut off, and we flie away.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. x. 40. How short they flew of that spirit, whose omniscience they would resemble, their weaknesse sufficiently declared.

1655.  Fuller, The Church-History of Britain, IX. vii. § 9. Matters flying thus high, the Arch-Bishop, with the rest of the Clergy, conceived it the safest way to apply themselves by Petition to the Queen.

1705.  Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. iv. 41. Whilst they fly High in their high-flown Divinity, they should not (like the Kite) have a Hawk’s-Eye to look out Sharp, and Spy the Prey.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 194, 4 July, ¶ 2. When the Fame, says he, of this celebrated Beauty first flew Abroad, I went in Pursuit of her to the Temple of Love.

1716.  Atterbury, Bp. of Bristol, Charge, 19. Where a Mean is commendable, He must neither fly too High, nor creep too Low.

1827.  Southey, Hist. Penins. War, II. 752. Busaco, which was now to become famous in British and Portugueze history, had long been a venerable name in Portugal. It is the only place in that kingdom where the barefooted Carmelites possessed what in monastic language is called a desert; by which term an establishment is designated where those brethren whose piety flies the highest pitch may at once enjoy the advantages of the eremite and the discipline of the cœnobite life, and thus indulge the heroism of ascetic devotion in security.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. II. iv. 117. As for the Elder Égalité he flies low at this time; appears in the Convention for some half-hour daily, with rubicund, preoccupied or impassive quasi-contemptuous countenance; and then takes himself away.

1847.  Tennyson, The Princess, V. 271.

  c.  quasi-trans. with cognate object.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. ii. 40.

1609.  A. Craig, Poet. Recreat., 7.

  d.  In a few expressions, as The bird is or has flown (chiefly fig.), To let (a bird) fly, the simple vb. is used = ‘fly away.’

1480.  Caxton, Chron. Eng., xcv. 75. They made engynes with glewe of nettes and token peces of tunder and of fire and bounde it to the sparwes fete, and afterward lete hem flee.

1847.  Tennyson, The Princess, IV. 90.

a. 1881.  Rossetti, House of Life, viii.

  e.  Of birds: To migrate or issue forth in a body. Cf. FLIGHT sb.¹ 1 e.

1766.  Pennant, Zool. (1768), II. 330. The wild birds fly (as the bird-catchers term it) chiefly during the month of October.

  f.  Of fish: To spring from the water. Also in more literal sense said of FLYING-FISH.

1579.  T. Stevens, Lett. from Goa, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 160. There is another kind of fish as bigge almost as a herring, which hath wings and flieth, and they are together in great number.

1734.  Mortimer, in Phil. Trans., XXXVIII. 316. The Flying-Fish. The Wings with which it flies in the Air, are only a Pair of very large Finns.

1867.  F. Francis, Angling, ix. (1880), 336. I once hooked a good fish in the Galway river with the Archimedean minnow, being induced to try it by seeing the small fry flying from the water as though a pike were after them.

  2.  trans. (causatively). To set (birds) flying one against the other. Const. with. Also with away: To send flying away; to let fly.

1607.  Heywood, Woman killed w. Kindn., II. Wks. 1874, II. 96.

1845.  Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), V. 58 (Sp. xiii). Ordered to fly-away their game-cocks, unmuzzle their bear-baitings.

1883.  C. J. Wills, Mod. Persia, 94. The pigeons are flown twice a day, in the early morning and evening, and it is a very pretty thing to watch.

  3.  Hawking. a. Of the hawk: To gain by flying a position of attack. Const. at. To fly on head, to fly gross: see quots.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., II. (1677), 164. Fly on head, is missing her Quarry, and betaking her self to the next Check, as Crows, &c. Ibid., 203. As it is less difficult to teach a Hawk to fly at Fowl than it is to come unto and love the Lure, the first being natural, and not the last; so there is less industry to be used in making a Hawk fly the Hern than Water-fowl.

1677.  Coles, Fly gross when hawks fly at great Birds, as Cranes.

1684.  R. H., School Recreat., 78. Gerfaulcon will fly at the Hern. Saker, at the Crane or Bittern.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 131. They have been indeed taught to fly at game; but little is to be obtained from their efforts, being difficult of instruction, and capricious in their obedience.

1826.  Sir J. S. Sebright, Observations on Hawking (1828), 57. I will suppose that hawks are to fly three days in the week.

  fig.  1830.  Sir J. Barrington, Personal Sk. Own Times (ed. 2), II. 186. He had occasionally flown at higher game in the regions of poesy; but, somehow or other, no bookseller would publish his effusions: one said they were too flat; another that they were too elevated; a third characterised them as too wild for the critics; and a fourth pronounced them too tame for the ladies.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, vii. Deer stalking is all very well, but I fly at higher game.

  b.  causatively. Of the falconer: To cause (a hawk) to attack by flying. Also absol. and to fly with (a hawk). Const. at.

1591.  Florio, Second Fruites, 37. I loue to flie at the Partridge, and at the Fesant.

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., II. i. 1.

1638.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 233. Their best Falcons are out of Russia and other Scythick Provinces; they fly them at choise game; commonly at Hares, Jackalls, Partrich, Phesant, Herne, Pellican, Poot, Estrich, &c.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat. (1677), 187 At first fly with her at young Pheasant or Partridge, to encourage her by advantage, and afterwards at the old. Ibid., 213. They are flown at Field or Brook, and are Hawks that maintain long flights, whereby much Fowl is killed (and more than by a better Hawk) by reason of Dogs and Hawking-poles.

a. 1711.  Ken, Edmund, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 66.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew. (1866), II. ii. 32. Comforted himself by flying his hawks at a covey of partridges.

1879.  Radcliffe in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 9), IX. 9/1. Falcons or long-winged hawks are either ‘flown out of the hood’ i.e., unhooded and slipped when the quarry is in sight, or they are made to ‘wait on’ till game is flushed.

  fig.  1643.  Digby, Observ. Sir T. Browne’s Relig. Med., 10. Much lesse can it be expected that an excellent Physitian … should easily, and with successe, flye his thoughts at so towring a Game, as a pure intellect, a Separated and unbodyed Soule.

  c.  To chase with a hawk. Also of the hawk: To attack by flying. To fly the river: to chase waterfowl. To fly to the mark: see quot. 1891.

c. 1590.  Greene, Fr. Bacon, xii.

a. 1654.  Selden, Table-t. (Arb.), 80. The Parliament flying upon several Men, and then letting them alone, does as a Hawk that flyes a Covey of Partridges, and when she has flown them a great way, grows weary and takes a Tree.

1674.  N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., II. (1677), 209. These Hawks do not fly the River, but always from the Fist fly the Herns, Shovelers, &c. Ibid., 225. When she hath flown a Partridge to the Mark, she will not away until it be retrieved by the Spaniels.

1710.  Apparition, 19.

1879.  Radcliffe in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 9), IX. 9/2. Rooks are flown in the same manner as herons, but the flight is generally inferior.

1891.  Harting, Biblioth. Accipitraria, Gloss., 226. Mark, to fly at, v. generally said of a Goshawk, when, having ‘put in’ a covey of partridges, she takes stand, marking the spot where they disappeared from view until the falconer arrives to put them out to her.

  fig.  1632.  B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, Induct. Fly everything you see to the mark, and censure it freely; so you interrupt not the series or thread of the argument, to break or pucker it with unnecessary questions.

1691.  Dryden, K. Arthur, III. ii. Grim. Oh, still thou think’st to fly a fool to mark.

  4.  intr. To pass or rise quickly in or through the air. Also with about, away, forth, off, out, up, etc. To fly compass: see COMPASS C. 3 b.

a. 1000.  Elene 140 (Gr.). Daroð-æsc fluȝon, hildenædran.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 85. Þet smal chef þet flid ford mid þe winde.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 45/377. Ore leuedi made þe soule a-non to þe bodi aȝen fleo.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 6381 (Fairf.).

1551.  T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 43. Boulettes of leade, shot out of a gunne, an arrowe out of a bowe, a stone out of a slyng: all these flie not into the ayre, by their owne power or might, but by force, & violence of him that casteth them.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, III. ii. 113.

1633.  Shirley, Yng. Admiral, I. i.

1665.  Hooke, Microgr., 203. The spirit of Wine would immediately fly away, and leave the Animal dry, in its natural posture.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 464.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 14. Leaving it exposed for some time to the open air, so that the volatile Salt or Spirit may fly off.

1779–81.  Johnson, Life Drake, Wks. IV. 448. They lie upon rushes, with the fire in the midst, and let the smoak fly out at the door.

1785.  Burns, To W. Simpson, xiii.

1807.  Hutton, Course Math., II. 264. Sound flies, through the air, uniformly at the rate of about 1142 feet in 1 second of time.

1819.  Byron, Juan, II. xi.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., I. 106 The Captain, notwithstanding his imminent danger, with fragments of ice flying in all directions, and the masts of the ship falling around him escaped unhurt; but the mate, and two more of the crew, were killed, and many others were wounded.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. xv. 100. The wind was strong, and fleecy clouds flew over the heavens; some of which, as they formed and dispersed themselves about the flanks of the Aletschhorn, showed extraordinary iridescences.

  b.  To leap or spring lightly, or vault over. To fly the garter: see FLY-THE-GARTER.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. 273. Friday had not been long gone, when he came running back, and flew over my outer Wall, or Fence, like one that felt not the Ground.

1791.  ‘G. Gambado,’ Ann. Horsem., vi. (1809), 94. When your horse has flown over a gate or stile in his old way, with his fore legs only, you were to dismount, and clap your whip, or stick, properly under his tail, and then mount again.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxxviii. Who do you suppose will ever employ a professional man, when they see his boy playing at marbles in the gutter, or flying the garter in the horse-road?

Mod.  He flew over two backs at once.

  c.  Of stairs: To descend or ascend without change of direction. Cf. FLIGHT sb.¹ 7.

1685.  Temple, Gardening, Wks. 1731, I. 187. From the Middle of this Parterre is a Descent by many Steps flying on each Side of a Grotto that lies between them (covered with Lead, and Flat) into the lower Garden.

1703.  T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 248. Straight Stairs … always fly, and never Wind, and therefore are by some call’d Flyers.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 145. These [Stairs] because they sometimes wind, and sometimes fly off from that winding, take therefore the more room up in the Stair-Case.

  5.  trans. (causatively). a. To cause (a kite) to rise and maintain its position in the air. Also colloq. or slang, To fly a kite: to raise money by an accommodation bill; hence to fly a bill.

1739.  Chesterf., Lett. (1792), I. xxxi. 108. You must feel that it would be very improper and indecent, if you were to fly your kite, or play at nine-pins, while you are with Mr. Maittaire.

1808.  Sporting Mag., XXXII. July, 181/1. In Ireland, flying the kite is used as a cant phrase for raising money on accommodation bills.

1833.  Marryat, P. Simple, II. ii. 23. One of the amusements of the prisoners was flying kites.

1848.  Punch, 27 May, 226/1. He never does ‘a little discounting’ nor lends his hand to ‘flying a kite.’

1860.  Trollope, Framley P., xxvii. Fly a bill, and let Tozer have it to get cash on it in the city!

1875.  Tennyson, Q. Mary, I. v.

  b.  To convey through the air.

1864.  Sala, in Daily Tel., 23 Dec. The first wires were flown across by means of a kite.

  c.  slang. To fly the mags: see quots. To fly a tile, to knock off a man’s hat.

1812.  J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Fly the mags, to gamble, by tossing up halfpence.

1825.  C. M. Westmacott, Eng. Spy, II. 135. Another point of amusement is flying a tile, or slating a man, as the phrases of the Stock Exchange describe it.

1838.  H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, III. xiii. ‘Fly the mags, and let’s see,’ replied Rust; ‘if heads, we scrag him—if tails, wice werser.’

  d.  colloq. To send (a letter) hastily.

1846.  Darwin, in Life & Lett. (1887), I. 351. Immediately that I hear, I will fly you a line, for the chance of your being able to come. Ibid. (1859), (1887) II. 160. But now, having nothing particular to do, I will fly a note, though I have nothing particular to say or ask.

  6.  intr. Of something attached by one edge or end, esp. of a flag, hair, a garment, etc.: To float loosely; to flutter, wave. Cf. FLYING colours.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 271. The Antient-staff, about which the ships-colours do fly.

1659.  B. Harris, trans. Parival’s The History of This Iron Age, 309. To … march with drums beating and colours flying.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., XIII. 271.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 101.

1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 214. Royals are set flying.

1797.  Nelson, 28 Nov., in Nicolas, Disp., II. 455. I have been paid as a Rear-Admiral from August 11th, 1796, when a Captain was appointed to the Ship in which my Pendant flew.

1810.  Scott, Lady of L., II. xxi.

1880.  Tennyson, Def. Lucknow, i.

  b.  trans. To set (a flag) flying; to carry at the mast-head; to hoist; occas. with out. Also, To set (a sail) loosely: see quots.

1655.  M. Carter, Hon. Rediv. (1660), 187. From which time ever since they flye that Crosse in their Banners.

1794.  Rigging & Seamanship, I. 166. Flying of Sails, setting them in a loose manner; as royal sails without lifts.

1863.  Lond. Rev., 10 Jan. 37. To sink, burn, and destroy everything that flew the ensign of the so-called United States of America.

1885.  Law Times, 23 May, 63/1. The steamship … flying signals of distress.

1887.  Kinglake, Crimea, VIII. 300. As though in imagined communion with the honored freight lying on board, beneath the Flag of the Union, she flew out the signal—‘Farewell!’

1887.  Besant, The World Went Very Well Then, i. 11. If they do fly the black flag, it is only to strike more terror into the enemy and make them quicker to cry for quarter.

  7.  intr. To move or travel swiftly, pass rapidly, rush along. Also with about, along, away, back, etc.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 21280 (Cott.).

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, III. ii. 109.

1563.  W. Fulke, Meteors (1640), 33 b. Sometime a whirlewind is set on fire within the cloud, and then breaking forth, flyeth round like a great cart-wheele, terriblie to behold, turning and over browing all drie things that it commeth neer, as Houses, Woods, Corn, Grasse, and what soever else standeth in the way.

a. 1575.  Gascoigne, Pr. Pleas. Kenilw. A vj.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVIII. 191.

a. 1667.  Jer. Taylor, Contempl. State Man, I. v. (1699), 54. A corrupt Humour in the Entrails, which flies unto the Heart without any Body perceiving it, is sufficient to make an End of thee.

1703.  Rowe, Ulyss., II. i. 581.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 186–7. The pains are not always fixed, or confined to the part first attacked; but wander, shoot, and fly about, sometimes with astonishing swiftness.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 234.

1842.  Tennyson, Day-dream, Arrival, iii.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 386. At present we fly from York or Exeter to London by the light of a single winter’s day.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. i. 223. Bradley afterwards found that, owing to the velocity with which the earth flies through space, the rays of the stars are slightly inclined, just as raindrops which descend vertically appear to meet us when we move swiftly though the shower.

1883.  E. Pennell-Elmhirst, The Cream of Leicestershire, 132. He had never seen hounds fly along as they did now.

  b.  esp. of time. [With mixture of senses 1 and 11; cf. fugit invida ætas.]

1597.  Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 57.

1712.  Pope, Messiah, 21.

1800–24.  Campbell, Poems, Song, ii.

1847.  L. Hunt, Jar Honey, xii. (1848), 154. Time flies, and friends must part.

  † c.  Of a stage-coach: To ‘run.’ Obs.

1748.  St. James’s Even. Post, No. 6039. Dover, and Deal Stage-Coaches, will continue Flying till the First Day of October.

  † d.  quasi-trans. To run over hurriedly. Obs.^–1

1589.  Hay any Work, 41. Your rauening purciuantes flye citie & countrie to seeke for Waldegraue.

  † e.  Fly (a)round (U.S. colloq.): to bustle about, bestir oneself.

1851.  J. J. Hooper, Night at Ugly Man’s, in Wdw. Rugby’s Husb., 44. Old ’oman, fly around, git somethin’ for the ’squire and Dick to eat!

1871.  Mrs. Stowe, Oldtown Fires. Stories, 63. He flew round like a parched pea on a shovel.

  8.  Of persons and animals: To move with a start or rush; to spring, start, hasten, rush. To fly to arms: to take up arms on a sudden. To fly in the face of: see FACE sb. 4 b.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 17.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1778), I. 118. The bidet flew from one side of the road to the other, then back again—then this way—then that way, and in short every way but by the dead ass.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 163.

1824.  Scott, Redgauntlet, let. xi. The nag began to spring, and flee, and stend, that my gudesire could hardly keep the saddle.

1826.  Disraeli, Viv. Grey, II. vi. In this dilemma he flew to his father.

1847.  Mrs. A. Kerr, trans. Ranke’s History of Servia, 185. In a violent commotion, they had flown to arms, under the guidance of bold and skilful chiefs who had, in fact, gained the victory of independence.

1854.  Anne Manning, Old Chelsea Bun-ho., vii. (1855), 116. She flew up-Stairs, without at all regarding the Trouble of unpacking her Box to get the Patterns, which were at the very Bottom, in order to lie flat.

1881.  Gardiner & Mullinger, Study Eng. Hist., I. ii. 37. Danes and English were especially ready to fly apart.

  b.  To fly at, on, upon: to spring with violence upon, attack with fury, rush upon; lit. and fig. Also (rarely) transf. of inanimate objects.

1549.  Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 John iii. 15. He hath not thrust his sword in him, he hath not poisoned him, he hath not flowen vpon him, he hath not cursed him, but onely wished him euyll.

1583.  Rich, Phylotus & Emelia (1835), 17. He seemed, as though he would haue fline vpon her in the streate to haue beate her.

1586.  Warner, Alb. Eng., I. vi.

1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. xv. 19. Wherefore then didst thou … flie vpon the spoile.

1692.  South, Serm., 1 John iii. 21 (1737), II. xii. 464. No Height of Honour, nor affluence of Fortune can keep a Man from being miserable nor indeed contemptible, when an enraged Conscience shall fly at him and take him by the Throat.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. ix. 393. At last one of them flew on the fellow who had the sword in his possession, and wresting it out of his hands, drew it, and with it was preparing to fall on the Chinese.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VI. xi. You never laugh at the old folks, and never fly at your servants, nor smoke people before their faces.

1807–8.  Syd. Smith, Plymley’s Lett., Wks. (1859), II. 160/1. If you have plagued and worried a mastiff dog for years, is he mad because he flies at you whenever he sees you?

1834.  Darwin, in Life & Lett. (1887), I. 250. My hammer has flown with redoubled force on the devoted blocks; as I thought over the eloquence of the Cambridge President, I hit harder and harder blows.

c. 1860.  Miss Yonge, Strayed Falcon, in Hist. Dramas, No. 3 (Groombridge), 46. People came out of the dining-room, and Katie flew upon them, not quietly and beseechingly, as she had done last year, but almost imperiously.

1861.  Dickens, Gt. Expect., ix. My sister with an exclamation of impatience was going to fly at me.

  c.  To fly in or into (a passion, rapture, etc.): to pass suddenly into (such a state).

1683.  W. Hacke, Collect. Orig. Voy., I. (1699), 32. Which made the other fly into a Passion with him, and charge him with some Default, insomuch that they come back to very high Words.

1797.  Scott, Lett. to Mrs. Scott, in Lockhart, Life, viii. Without flying into raptures then, I may safely assure you, that her temper is sweet and cheerful, her understanding good.

1819.  Byron, Juan, I. liv.

1887.  R. N. Carey, Uncle Max, xxii. 176. I only flew into a passion, and asked her how she dared to imply such a thing?

  d.  To fly off: lit. to start away; ‘to revolt’ (J.); fig. to take another course; to break away (from an agreement or engagement).

1667.  Milton, P. L., VI. 613.

1713.  Addison, Cato, IV. 54.

1785.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, 16 Dec. I was disentangling myself from Miss Dewes, to be ready to fly off if any one knocked at the street-door.

1816.  Sporting Mag., XLVIII. 173. From this agreement he flew off.

1864.  H. Ainsworth, John Law, III. ii. Nicomède requires an immediate decision, and were I to ask for time, would inevitably fly off, and the affair would come to an end.

  e.  To fly out: (a) to spring out, come out suddenly; to rush out; (b) to ‘explode’ or burst out into extravagance in conduct, language, or temper. Const. against, at, upon (an object); into (action, language, feeling, etc.).

  (a)  c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), iv. 27. Þere fleygh out an Eddere right hidous to see.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., I. x. 19.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xiv. 43. Some seventy or eighty Mahometans came flying out from under their hatches.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 163. Without flying out of the bounds they had prescrib’d to themselves.

  (b)  1638.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 84. At last hee came to Azmeer, where he throws himselfe at’s Fathers feet, and upon his repentance and oath never more to fly out, is pardoned.

1649.  Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., 498. Impatient of the wrongs of their conjugall disappointments, fly out into open contestations, and fearelesly seeke for those remedies, which the lawes provided in such cases will allow them.

1667.  Pepys, Diary (1877), V. 394. I was troubled, and so were the Lords, to hear my Lord fly out against their great pretence of merit from the King, for their sufferings and loyalty.

1681.  W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 616. To fly out, or squander his estate.

1779.  Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, Nov. He constrained himself from flying out as long as he was able; but upon our mentioning her having fifty pounds a song, he suddenly, in a great rage, called out, ‘Catgut and rosin!—ma’am, ’tis scandalous!’

1865.  Mrs. Gaskell, Wives & Dau., xlvii., in Cornh. Mag., XII. Oct., 399. I beg your pardon for flying out upon you so; but God knows what pain you were putting me to.

1868.  G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 130. Another friend who only carried a musket during the war has flown out to me at the action of the Radicals in Congress.

1884.  Church, Bacon, iii. 62. Perhaps she thought of the possibility of his flying out unexpectedly at some inconvenient pinch, and attempting to serve her interests, not in her way, but in his own.

  9.  Of things: To be forced or driven off suddenly or with a jerk; to start. Of a limb: To be parted suddenly from the body. Const. from, out of. Also to send flying.

c. 1340.  Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 459. Þat þe fyr of þe flynt flaȝe fro fole houes.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 115.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 2669.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xlvi. 153. Huon lyft vp his sworde and strake ther with the admyrall, that his hede flewe fro hys sholders.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 176.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 427. Then flyes in his face all his whoring, swearing, lying.

1683.  Waller, Invas. Turks, 23.

1796.  Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, xxi. 321. Let it stand an hour before you open it, lest it fly in your face.

1847.  Porter, Big Bear, etc., 132. Thar, they’ve got him agin, and now the fur flies; old Mas’r know’d how!

1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xx. Oughter see how old Mas’r made the flesh fly.

1879.  F. Pollok, Sport Brit. Burmah, II. 149. Up would go the elephant’s hind leg, sending the pig flying, and nearly pitching me out of the howdah.

1885.  Spectator, 30 May, 698/2. The engine minder who goes to the parish doctor because a spark has flown in his eye, is no more necessarily a pauper, in the true sense of the word, than Lord Pembroke would be, if he did exactly the same thing.

  b.  fig. Of money: To be rapidly spent.

1632.  Rowley, Woman never Vext, II. Marry her, and let her estate fly.

1635.  N. R., Camden’s Hist. Eliz., an. 5. 1. 48. Edward Earle of Oxford (who set his Patrimony flying).

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 97. In this resolve she lets her Treasure fly, hires fifteen thousand Horse.

1840.  Lady C. M. C. Bury, Hist. Flirt (1841), I. iv. 123. ‘I will try to use my power moderately,’ I replied; ‘but I shall certainly make his money fly.’

  c.  With various advbs., about, back, off, out, up, etc. † To fly off: (of cannon) to be fired.

c. 1340.  Cursor Mundi, 1769 (Fairf.).

c. 1430.  Syr. Gener. (Roxb.), 5934. Of his sheld floy of a grete cantel.

c. 1460.  Launfal, 473.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 7.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 111.

1650.  Howell, Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, I. (1664), 117. The Vice-roy being brought to the Castle, caus’d all the ordnance to flie off.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xvi. 55. The dog struck her over the head with his hatchet till her brains flew out.

1665.  Hooke, Microgr., 15. Though they may be both mov’d, yet are their vibrations so different, and so untun’d, as ’twere to each other, that they cross and jar against each other, and consequently, cannot agree together, but fly back from each other to their similar particles.

1684.  R. H., School Recreat., 41–2. Which if it [fire-works] lie low, by spouting out, will make the Water fly about, as if it spouted Fire and Water out of his Mouth.

1703.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 169. The Tool will job into softer parts of the Stuff, and fly off where a Knot or other harder parts of the Stuff comes to the Tool.

1712.  W. Rogers, Voy., 107. We saw the Dutchess lowering her Main-Yard: the Tack flew up, and the Lift unreev’d.

1713.  Berkeley, Guardian, No. 126, ¶ 2. The earth (as well as the other planets) without flying off in a tangent line, constantly rolls about the sun, and the moon about the earth, without deserting her companion in so many thousand years.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 349. The ice shivering with the violence of the strain when the ship fell astern, the anchor flew out, and the ship went adrift.

  d.  causative and quasi-trans.

1676.  J. Worlidge, Vinetum Britannicum, or a Treatise of Cider (1691), 146. The Liquor were better fly the Cork than break the Bottle, which must be, in case the Cork be tyed down, and the Liquor not well qualified.

1876.  G. Meredith, Beauch. Career, II. vi. 108–9. The ship in the Arabian tale coming within the zone of the magnetic mountain, flies all its bolts and bars, and becomes sheer timbers, but that is the carelessness of the ship’s captain.

  e.  intr. Of a door or window: To be thrown suddenly open, to, up, etc. Rarely trans. (slang) To throw up (a window).

1625.  Massinger, New Way, II. iii.

1782.  Cowper, Gilpin, 110.

1847.  Emerson, Poems, Merlin (1857), 116.

1857.  R. L. Snowden, Magistrate’s Assistant (ed. 3), 447. To lift a window … To fly a window.

1870.  Thornbury, Tour Eng., I. ii. 36. The dark prison doors flew open at the first chink of the gold.

1885.  Stevenson, Dynamiter, ii. 10. The door flew back emitting clouds of smoke.

  f.  To fly in pieces, or simply to fly: to break up suddenly, shiver, split up. † To fly on fire: to burst into flames.

c. 1470.  Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, II. 49.

1624.  Massinger, Renegado, II. iii.

1692.  Ray, Dissol. World, III. iv. (1732), 327. Because the Sun and Stars being fed with Vapours exhaled from the Earth, all the Moisture will at length be drawn out, and the World fly on fire.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 262.

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 245. Having no plank, except pieces of the wreck’s deck, we found it so dry and stubborn that fire and water had hardly any effect in making it pliable and fit for use, it rent and split and flew like glass.

1766.  Goldsm., Hermit, xiv.

1881.  F. Young, Every man his own Mechanic, § 1461. If, therefore, the first time of using the heat is raised rapidly, they are certain to crack or ‘fly.’

  g.  Naut. Of the wind: To shift or veer suddenly. Also with about, off. Of a ship, her head: To fly to, up in, into the wind (see quots.).

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. III. 25. Tornadoes and sudden Gusts; in which the Winds fly in a moment quite round the Compass. Ibid., 27. About Mid-Say they fly off 2, 3 or 4 Points further from the Land.

1855.  Ogilvie, Suppl., Fly, To fly about. Among seamen, the wind is said to fly about, when it changes frequently during a short space of time.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Fly-up.… To fly up in the wind, is when a ship’s head comes suddenly to windward, by carelessness of the helmsman. Ibid. Flying-to. Is when a vessel, from sailing free or having tacked, and her head thrown much to leeward, is coming to the wind rapidly, the warning is given to the helmsman, ‘Look out, she is flying-to.’

1882.  Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 232. If the wind is abeam—The ship is sure to fly up into the wind.

  10.  To let fly. a. To discharge (missiles).

a. 1000.  Judith, 220 (Gr.). Hie þa fromlice leton forð fleoȝan flana scuras.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 479.

1664.  Butler, Hud., II. ii. 815.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Life in Wilds, x. 58. Thinking this too good an opportunity to be lost, he let fly one of his precious arrows.

  b.  absol. To fire, shoot; also said occas. of a gun. Also, to make an attack (with any weapon).

1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Pied, Jonër a quattre pieds contre, to kicke, winse, or let fly at with all foure.

1624.  Capt. Smith, Virginia, III. vi. 62. We let fly amongst them, so that they fled.

1686.  J. Sergeant, Monast. Conventions, 185. Then … the Cannon of the Castle let fly.

a. 1735.  Granville, Ess. Unnat. Flights in Poetry, 55.

1879.  F. Pollok, Sport Brit. Burmah, II. 41. Thinking one bear in hand was better than a couple on the hill, I let fly again, and this time killed it; it did not give even one groan.

  c.  fig. (trans. and absol.).

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 52.

1654.  H. L’Estrange Chas. I. (1655), 24. A Member of the House of Commons, let fly this reply. It is better to dye by a forein enemie, then to be destroyed at home.

1678.  Trans. Crt. Spain, 180. And to take all pretext from those who by ignorance or malice let flye against me.

1859.  Punch, 6 Aug., 54/1. Lord Lyndhurst, at whom it had pleased Mr. Bright to scoff, in reference to his Lordship’s recommendation to England to be armed, let fly at that respected Quaker, and caught him what (if pugilistic terms be not out of place when one is alluding to so pacific a personage) may be designated an extremely neat one on the conk.

1887.  Besant, The World Went Very Well Then, xvi. 135. He let fly a round dozen or so of sailors’ oaths, such as may be heard in Flagon Row or Anchorsmith Alley, sound and weighty oaths, every one more profane than its predecessor.

  d.  Naut. To allow (a sail or sheet) to fly loose; rarely to set (a sail), to carry, hoist (colors).

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 39. When we say, let fly the sheats, then they let go amaine, which commonly is in some gust, lest they spend their topsailes.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 297. If they finde them unwilling to bee spoke with all, Frigots let flye all the sails that ever they can make.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. I. 48. It is the custom of our Countrymen abroad, to let fly their Colours on Sundays, and all other remarkable Days.

1805.  Sir E. Berry, in Nicolas, Nelson’s Disp., VII. 118. I then let fly the top-gallant sheets, and fired guns until it was bent.

  II.  In senses of FLEE. (Now in pres.-stem only: see the remarks under FLEE v.)

  11.  a. = FLEE 1, 1 b, and 1 d. Also quasi-trans.

a. 1000.  Byrhtnoth, 275 (Gr.). Þæt he nolde fleoȝan fotmæl landes.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxxvi. 334. For to dye in the place they wyll nat flye one fote.

1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (an 8), 204 b. Whyle Syr Robert was exhortyng and prouoking hys men to tarie, which were in maner discomfited, and redy to flye, he was enuyroned and beset about wyth his enemies.

1594.  H. Willobie, in Shaks. C. Praise, 15.

a. 1625.  B. Jonson, etc., Widow, I. i. I’ll make him fly the land.

1662.  Wood, Life (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 462. Flying the realme at the King’s returne.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. iii. 243.

a. 1703.  Burkitt, On N. T., Mark ii. 2. Honour flies from them that pursue it, and pursues those that fly from it.

1715–20.  Pope, Iliad, I. 35. Hence on thy Life, and fly these hostile Plains.

1839.  Thirlwall, Greece, VI. I. 225. Sisygambis refused to fly.

1855.  Thackeray, Rose & Ring, xi. You must fly the country for a while.

  b.  = FLEE 2 and 2 c. Const. into, to, † unto.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6675 (Gött.).

1584.  Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 4–5. He beholding some monstrous shape in the aire being in the battell fell mad, and flieng to the wood, liued there the rest of his life.

1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xxi. 76. Unless upon the Conjunction of the new Moons one fly into the Ports for shelter.

a. 1711.  Ken, Anodynes, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 409.

1818.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 641. If he had conceived any apprehension from them, it was to the English he must have flown for protection, and to them he would naturally have communicated his fears.

  c.  = FLEE 3 and 4.

1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 4. Other delightes, from which a great manie men flie.

1634.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 48. The Towne in Winter is inhabited by sundry Nations as Persians, Indians, Arabs, Iewes and others: all which flie away in Summer to avoid the intolerable heat their, caused both by the burning sands and great height of a mountaine towards the North, anticipating the coole breath or aire.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., V. 60.

1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, XI. vii. 6. I cannot reach thee! whither dost thou fly?

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 73, Laws, Introduction. He does not consider the real punishment of evil, which is, that he grows like evil men, and is compelled to fly from the company of the good.

  d.  = FLEE 5. (Said of a shadow, color, etc.)

1535.  Coverdale, Job xiv. 2. He [man] flyeth as it were a shadowe, and neuer continueth in one state.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 215.

1821.  Shelley, Adonais, lii.

a. 1861.  Mrs. Browning, My Heart & I, ii.

  e.  trans. = FLEE 7 and 8. † To fly the heels (see quot. 1727).

1552.  Latimer, Serm. Third Sond. Epiph., Fruitful Serm. (1584), 312 b. Haue an earnest desire to leaue sinne, and to flye the same.

1583.  Babington, Commandm., ix. (1637), 87. Flye to heare as thou wouldest flye to speake what tendeth vnto slaunder.

1635.  A. Stafford, The Femall Glory (1869), 54. There is a third proud one of the Hypocrite; who though he be ambitious of Dignities, and seeks them by all cunning, and undermining wayes, yet (to be reputed humble) he seemes to flie them.

1727.  Bailey, vol. II., s.v. To Fly the Heels … a Term used of a Horse, when he obeys the Spur.

1754.  Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 27. Cherish true religion as preciously as you will fly, with abhorrence and contempt, superstition and enthusiasm.

a. 1839.  Praed, Poems (1864), II. 241, ‘On Pity.’

  † f.  To escape the notice of. Cf. FLEE 9. Obs.^–1

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVI. Comm. It flies all his translators and interpreters, who take it merely for serious, when it is apparently scopticall and ridiculous, with which our author would delight his understanding reader, and mix mirth with matter.