Flabbergast, verb. (colloquial). To astound; to stagger, either
physically or mentally. [O. E., flab = to frighten + gast = to scare.]
Fr., abalober; baba (from ébahi = astounded); épater (= flatten out).
Sp., quedarse de, or hecho, una pieza (= ‘knocked all of a heap’). See
Floored.
1772. Annual Register, ‘On New Words.’ Now we are flabbergasted and
bored from morning to night.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, etc., p. 79. His colleagues were
flabbergasted when they heard of Castlereagh’s sudden death.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (‘Brothers of Birchington’). He was
quite flabbergasted to see the amount.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 261. We rather just imagine they will be
not a little puzzled and flabbergasted to discover the meaning or
wit of some of those elegant phrases.
1864. Derby Day, p. 67. You’re sort of flabbergasted. It’s taken
all the wind out of you like, and you feel like an old screw a
blowing up Highgate Hill.
1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 18 Jan. Poor Clarke was
completely flabbergasted.
1891. National Observer, 1 Aug. In no other sport is the laudator
temporis acti so completely flabbergasted as here.
Flabberdegaz, subs. (theatrical).—Words interpolated to dissemble a
lapse of memory; gag (q.v.). Also, imperfect utterance or bad acting.
Flag, subs. (old).—1. A groat, or fourpenny piece. Also Flagg, and
Flagge. For synonyms, see Joey.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65. Roge. But a flagge, a wyn, and
a make. (But a groat, a penny, and a half-penny.)
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept. 1874) s.v.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.
1725. Jonathan Wild, Canting Dict., s.v.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 269. A
tremendous black doll bought for a flag (fourpence) of a retired
rag-merchant.
2. (common).—An apron; hence a badge of office or trade; cf.,
Flag-flasher. Equivalents are Belly-cheat and Fig-leaf.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 232
(List of patterer’s words), s.v.
1872. Dundee Advertiser, 20 April; ‘Report of Meeting of Domestic
Servants.’ It was contended that they were compelled to wear what
was generally known as a flag.
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. Suppose you try a
different tack, And on the square you flash your flag.