Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1794-1934
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FLAFFER, v., n.
I. v., tr. and intr. To flutter, flap (ne.Sc., Ags., Fif. 1951); to make a fluttering noise, to lap, of water; to palpitate, throb. Ppl.adj. flaff'rin (Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 89); deriv. flafferie, light, easily compressible (Lnk. 1825 Jam.), empty-headed (Abd.15 1928).Ags. 1794 Session Papers, Arbuthnott v. Scott (11 March 1795) 163:
A little water flaffering through the stones on the top of the dike.Abd. 1797 Aberdeen Mag. 349:
Fan waes my heart!- — its wings begude to shak', An' flaffer sae, my heart was like to brak'.Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 375:
A mere castle in the air, . . . payin nae taxes, it'ill be flaffered awa to the Back o' Beyond outower the mountain taps.e.Lth. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 19:
Jock Lowrie lap tae the cluds yestreen, An, flaffered aboot like a feather.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet xxxvii.:
Jock, that can eat a wamefu' o' green heather-taps wi' the dew on them like a bit flafferin' grouse bird.Rxb. 1901 W. Laidlaw Poetry and Prose 60:
The auld anes, flaffering on their wings, Were screaming as if us to chide.Bch. 1934 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 124:
Nae car could gae fleein' on like that. It's like the flafferin o' some muckle bird.
II. n. A fluttering, flapping motion (Sc. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags., Fif. 1951).wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan II. 77:
He'll gie a bit flaffer wi' his wings now and then.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 123:
But whan I lookit, quiet was the nicht — Ye wadna heard the flaffer o' a bird.Sc. 1883 J. Kennedy Poems (1920) 36:
An' round thee may ilk gladsome thing Light as the flaffer o' thy wing Aye keep thee blythe.