Flinch (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Flinching.] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. flÈchir, fr.
L. flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. Flex.] 1.
To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to
fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering;
to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to
bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
Locke.
2. (Croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give
a tight croquet.
Flinch, n. The act of flinching.
Flinch"er (?), n. One who flinches or fails.
Flinch"ing*ly, adv. In a flinching manner.
Flin"der*mouse` (?), n.[OE. vlindre moth (cf. D. vlinder butterfly) +
E. mouse. Cf. Flittermouse, Flinders.] (Zoˆl.) A bat; a flittermouse.
Flin"ders (?), n. pl. [Scot. flenders, flendris; perh. akin to E.
flutter; cf. D. flenters rags, broken pieces.] Small pieces or
splinters; fragments.
The tough ash spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders
flew.
Sir W. Scott.
Fling (flng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung (flng); p. pr. & vb. n.
Flinging.] [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to
whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl‰nga to romp, Dan.
flenge to slash.] 1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to
dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a
stone into the pond.
'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes
peasants, and of peasants kings.
Dryden.
He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung.
Dryden.
I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of
dishonor on it, It straight takes fire.
Addison.