Flounce (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flounced (flounst); p. pr. & vb. n.
Flouncing (?).] [Cf. OSw. flunsa to immerge.] To throw the limbs and
body one way and the other; to spring, turn, or twist with sudden
effort or violence; to struggle, as a horse in mire; to flounder; to
throw one's self with a jerk or spasm, often as in displeasure.
To flutter and flounce will do nothing but batter and bruise us.
Barrow.
With his broad fins and forky tail he laves The rising sirge, and
flounces in the waves.
Addison.
Flounce (?), n. The act of floucing; a sudden, jerking motion of the
body.
Flounce, n. [Cf. G. flaus, flausch, a tuft of wool or hair; akin to
vliess, E. fleece; or perh. corrupted fr. rounce.] An ornamental
appendage to the skirt of a woman's dress, consisting of a strip
gathered and sewed on by its upper edge around the skirt, and left
hanging.
Flounce, v. t. To deck with a flounce or flounces; as, to flounce a
petticoat or a frock.
Floun"der (?), n. [Cf. Sw. flundra; akin to Dan. flynder, Icel.
fly&?;ra, G. flunder, and perh. to E. flounder, v.i.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A
flatfish of the family PleuronectidÊ, of many species.
The common English flounder is Pleuronectes flesus. There are several
common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P.
glabra); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus); the summer
flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic coast; and the
starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus).