flabel 
It is continually flabelled, blown upon, and aired by the 
north winds. I'l-'jttliart, tr. of Rabelais, i. 30. 
fiabella, . Plural of flabellum. 
Flabellaria (flab-e-la'ri-a), n. [NL., < L. fla- 
bellum, a fan: see flabel.] A genus of alcyona- 
rians, of the order Gorgoniacea; and family Gor- 
i/oniidee, so called from the flabellate expansions 
formed of a corneous axis enveloped in a calca- 
reous crust ; the fan-corals. 
flabellarium (flab-e-la'ri-um), . ; pi. flabellaria 
(-a). [NL., < L. flabellum, a fan: see flabel, n.] 
One of the whip-like processes of a polyzoan ; 
a vibraculum : distinguished from a beak-like 
process, or avicitlarium (which see). 
flabellate (fla-bel'at), a. [< L. flabellum, a fan, 
shaped that is, in the form of a broad segment 
of a circle, and usually also plaited like a fan. 
Flabellate antennae, in entom., those antenna: in which 
the joints are short and furnished on one or both sides 
witli long, slender processes, which, when the antenna is 
bent back, spread out like a fan ; the extreme form of the 
pectinate or bipectinate types. 
flabellately (fla-bel'at-li), adv. In a flabellate 
manner ; with an approach to the form of a fan : 
as, flabellately orbiculate. 
S. Somaliensis, . . . stems wiry, . . . short, distant 
branches copiously flabellately compound. 
Brit, and For. Jour. Bot., 1883, p. 82. 
flabellation (flab-e-la'shon), n. [= F. flabella- 
tion, < L. flabellare, fan: see flabel, .] In surg., 
the act of keeping fractured limbs, as well as the 
dressings surrounding them, cool by the use of 
a fan or a device of similar character. 
flabelliform (fla-bel'i-form), a. [= F. flabelli- 
forme, < L. flabellum, a fan, + forma, shape.] 
In bot. and zoiil., fan-shaped; flabellate. 
Another set of appendages termed "flabettiform pro- 
cesses " is added at some little distance from its growing 
base. w. B. Carpenter, Micros., 535. 
flabellinerved (fla-bel'i-nervd), a. [< L. flabel- 
lum, a fan, + nernis, a nerve, + E. -ed 2 .] In 
bot., with straight nerves radiating from one 
point like a fan. 
flabellocrinite (fla-be-lok'ri-nit), n. [< Fldbel- 
locrinus + -ite' 2 .] An encrinite of the genus 
fldbeUoorvMU. 
Flabellocrinus (fla-be-lok'ri-nus), n. [NL., < 
L. flabellum, a fan, 4- Gr. Kpivov, a lily.] A ge- 
nus of flabellate crinoids. 
flabellum (fla-bel'um), n. ; yl.flabella (-a). [L., 
afan: see flabel, n.~\ 1. Afan,'usedintn'eGreek 
and Armenian churches to drive away insects 
2246 
Soft and limber; lax; drooping by its own 
weight ; without firmness or elasticity ; flabby : 
as, flaccid flesh. 
Yon wild cave, whose jagged brows are fringed 
Vfitti flaccid threads of ivy, in the still 
And sultry air depending motionless. 
Wordsworth. To Lycoris. 
Her bedrenched and flaccid garments. 
ir. mack, In Far Lochaber, iii. 
She caressed his hand with those large, soft, flaccid fin- 
gers from which he shrunk. 
Mrs. Olipltant, Poor Gentleman, xl. 
Could you evolve the intensity and intellectual alertness 
of Maggie Tulliver from her precedent conditions : to wit, 
a flaccid mother, and a father wooden by nature and sod- 
den by misfortune ? S. Lanier, The English Novel, p. 290. 
flag 
Papal Flabellum. 
Liturgical Hlabellum. 
from the bread and wine during the celebra- 
tion of the eucharist. Its ordinary use in the Ro- 
man Catholic Church ceased as early as the fourteenth 
century, but survives in the large fans, still known safla- 
the attendants of 
the pope in pro- 
cessions on cer- 
tain festivals. Al- 
so called flabrum. 
2. In Crusta- 
cea, same as 
epipodite. 3. 
[cap.] In Ac- 
tinozoa, a ge- 
nus of apo- 
rose madrepo- 
rarian corals, 
of the family 
Turbinoliida'.4. In ichth., specifically, same 
as serrula. SagemeU, 1884. 
flabilet (flab'il)', a. [< L. flabtlis, airy, < flare = 
E. blow*.] Subject to be blown about. Bailey. 
flabrum (fla'brum), n. ; pl.flabra (-bra.). [ML.] 
Ecclcs., same as flabellum, 1. 
flaccid (flak'sid), a. [= Sp. flacido = Pg. It. 
flaccido, < L. flaccidus, flabby, pendulous, flac- 
cid, < flaccus, flabby, pendulous. The resem- 
blance to E. flack, flacky, flag\ is accidental.] 
FlaMlum alatastrum, def. 3. 
flaccidezza (It. pron. fla-chi-det'sa), n. [It. (= 
Sp. flacidez = Pg. flaccidez = OF. flachesse), 
flaccidness, < flaccido, flaccid: see flaccid.] 
Same as flaccidity, 2. 
It seems probable that the parasitic organism which 
causes that disease [pebrine] is (as is also the distinct 
parasite causing the disease known as flaccidezza in the 
same animals [silkworms]) one of the Schizomycetes (Bac- 
teria). Encyc. Brit., XIX. 856. 
flaccidity (flak-sid'i-ti), n. [= F. flaccidite, < 
L. as if *flaccidita(f-)s, < flaccidus, flaccid: see 
flaccid.] 1. Same as flaccidness. 
The viscidity of the juices and the flaccidity of the fibres 
would, . . . by proper remedies andadueregimen, be re- 
moved. O. Cheyne, Health, vii. 
2. A disease of silkworms, due to fermentation 
of the food in the intestinal canal, and caused 
by one of the bacteria, Micrococcus Jlombycis. 
Also called flachery or (as French) flacherie, or 
(as Italian) flaccidezza. 
When the symptoms are observed we may be sure that 
the worms are attacked by flaccidity. 
Riley, Silk-Culture, p. 36. 
flaccidly (flak'sid-li), adv. In a flaccid manner. 
flaccidness (flak'sid-nes), n. The state of be- 
ing flaccid; laxity; limberness; want of firm- 
ness or elasticity. 
flacherie, flachery (flash'e-ri), n. [< F. flache- 
rie (see extract) ; cf. OF. 'flachesse, flaccidness : 
see flaccidezza.^ Same as flaccidity, 2. 
Consulting the authors who had written upon silkworms, 
Pasteur could not doubt that he had before his eyes a 
characteristic specimen of the disease called morts-flats 
or flacherie. 
Life of Pasteur, tr. by Lady Claud Hamilton, p. 152. 
flack (flak), v. [< ME. flacken, flutter, palpitate, 
= OD. vlacken, flicker, flash, sparkle (Kilian), 
= Icel. flakka = Dan. flakke = Sw. flacka, rove 
about; cf. Icel. flaka, flap, hang loose; Sw. 
flaxa, flutter. Hence the common E. form 
(with sonant g for surd k) flag 1 , q. v., and the 
freq. flacker, q. v.] I. intrans. If. To flutter; 
palpitate. 
Her cold brest began to hete, 
Her herte also to flacke and bete. 
Goicer, Conf. Amant., III. 315. 
2. To hang loosely ; flag. [Prov. Eng.] 
II. trans. To beat by flapping. [Prov. Eug.] 
flack (flak), w. [<. flack, v.] A blow ; a stroke. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
flacker (flak'er), r. i. [< ME. flakeren, flutter, 
waver, = OD.flakkeren, flicker, waver, = Dan. 
flagre, flicker,' flutter, = OHG. flogaron (once, 
for *flacartm1), MHG. vlackern, G. flacker n = 
Icel. fldkra (cf. equiv. fldkta), flutter; cf. AS. 
flacor (poet.), flying (of arrows). Practically 
a freq. of flack, q. v. Cf. flicker^.] To flutter, 
as a bird; flicker; quiver. [Prov. Eng.] 
And the chernbins/actererf with their wings. 
Ezek. x. 19 (Coverdale's trans.). 
flacket 1 (flak'et), r. i. [< flack + -et, here freq. 
in force, as in fidget; cf. flacker.] To flap about, 
as women's skirts ; have the skirts flap about. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
flacket 1 (flak'et), w, [< flackefl, v.] If. A loose 
hanging piece ; a flap. 
Vpon their heads caps of goldsmiths worke, hauing 
great flacketa of haire, hanging out on each side. 
Ilakluyt's Voyages, II. 113. 
2. A girl whose clothes hang loosely about her. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
flacket 2 (flak'et), n. [< ME. flaket, flaget, a 
flask, flagon, < OF. flasguct (s silent), flaschet, 
flachet, dim. of flasque, flache, a flask : see flask, 
flasket, and flagon.] A bottle; a flask. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
A clerk of the cuntre com toward rome 
With tvo flaketes ful of ful fine wynes. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1888. 
And Isai toke an asse laden with breade, and a flacket 
of wine, and a kydde, and sent them by David his sonne 
unto Saule. Breeches Bible, 1 Sam. xvi. 20. 
He tould them ther was not much for them in this ship, 
only 2. packs of Bastable ruggs, and 2. hoggsheads of 
meatheglin, drawne out in wooden flackett. 
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, p. 269. 
flacky (flak'i), o. [<flackl + -yi. Cf.flaggyl.] 
Hanging loosely. [Prov. Eng.] 
flacon (F. pron. fla-kon'), n. [F., a flagon: see 
flat/on.'] An old form of bottle having a screw- 
top, especially a pilgrims' bottle: as, a Jltirou 
of perfume, or of salts. 
Flacourtia (fla-kor'ti-a), . [NL., named after 
Etienue de Flacourt, a French traveler (1607- 
60).] A small genus of thorny shrubs or small 
trees, of the order Jiixaccai (or type of an order 
Flacourtiacece), natives of Africa, Asia, and the 
islands adjacent. The fruit of most of the species is 
edible. F. Ranuniich! is the Madagascar plum. F. sepa- 
ria is used in India for hedges. Several species are em- 
ployed medicinally in native practice. 
naff (flaf), r. i. [Cf . Hack, flacker, and Se.flauch- 
ter, freq. flaffcr.~] To flutter; flap. [Prov. Eng. 
and Scotch.] 
Then doubt not you a thousand fluffing flags, 
Nor horrible cries of hideous heathen hags. 
Hudson, tr. of Dn Bartas's Judith. 
An' if the wives an' dirty brats 
E'en thigger at your doors an' yetts, 
Flafiri wi' duds. Burns, Address of Beelzebub. 
flaffer (flaf 'er), v. i. [Freq. of fluff.] To flut- 
ter. [Prov. Eng.] 
flagi (fla 
gheren, vlagglteren, flag, droop: see flack.] 
intrans. 1. To hang loosely and laxly; droop 
from weakness or weariness. 
And now loud-howling wolves arouse the jades, . . . 
Who with their drowsy, slow, and flniiijiinf winj^s 
Clip dead men's graves, and from tht ir misty jaws 
Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., iv. 1. 
The wounded bird, ere yet she breath'd her last, 
With flanging wings alighted on the mast, 
Pope, Iliad, xxiii. 
A ship was lying on the sunny main ! 
Its sails wnjblfffftna in the breathless noon. 
Shelley, Rovolt of Islam, iii. 17. 
2. To grow languid or less active ; move or act 
more slowly; become feeble; droop; decline; 
fail: as, the spirits flag. 
We may break off from the duty whenever we nnd our 
attention flags, and return to it at a more seasonable 
opportunity. Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. x. 
The subscriptions afterwards were more free and gener- 
ous ; but, beginning to flag, I saw they would be insuf- 
ficient without some assistance from the Assembly. 
Franklin, Autobiog., p. 194. 
That flagging of the circulation which accompanies the 
decline of life. 
//. Spencer, Priii. of Psychol. (2d ed.), 100. 
3. To grow stale or vapid; lose interest or 
relish. 4. To become careless or inefficient; 
slacken; halt. 
If she shou'd flag in her part, I will not fail to prompt 
her. Congreve, Way of the World, iii. 18. 
5. [Cf. flag?.] To flap; wave. [Prov. Eng.] 
= Syn. 2. To languish, pine, sink, succumb. 
H. trans. 1. To cause or suffer to droop. 
[Rare.] 
Nor need they fear the dampness of the sky 
Should flag their wings and hinder them to fly, 
'Twas only water thrown on sails too dry. 
Dryden, Ilind and Panther, iii. 509. 
The thousand Loves that arm thy potent Eye 
Must drop their Quivers, flag their Wings, and die. 
Prior, Ode, st. 3. 
2. To make feeble ; enervate ; exhaust. [Rare.] 
Nothing so flags the spirits . . . as intense studies. 
Ecliard. 
flag 2 (flag), . [Early mod. E. flagge (= G. 
flagge), of D. or Scand. origin : OD. vlagglie, D. 
vlag = Sw. flagg = Dan. flag, a flag, orig. of a 
ship's flag; connected with Sw. dial, flage, flut- 
ter in the wind, and ult. with E. flagi, flack, 
flacker, q. v. Cf . Icel. flogra = OHG. flogaron, 
flokron, nutter; OHG. flogezen, MHG. rlogzen, 
vlokzen, nutter, flicker: connected with Icel. 
fljuga (= OHG. fliogan, etc.), fly, = E. flyi.] 
1. Apiece of thin, light fabric, especially bunt- 
ing, usually rectangular and oblong or square, 
but sometimes triangular, notched, or otherwise 
varied in form, ranging from a few inches to sev- 
eral yards in dimensions, used hanging free from 
a staff to which it is attached or connected by 
one end, for many purposes, as a signal, symbol, 
cognizance, or standard, and differing in size, 
color, and emblematic marking or ornamenta- 
tion, according to its intended use. The most com- 
mon employment of flags is as military ensigns, colors, 
or standards, or emblems of nationality in all its modes of 
visible manifestation. In the army a flag is a banner by 
which one regiment is distinguished from another, and is 
usually called the colors. In the navy tings are lK>rne at 
the masthead not only to designate the nationality of a 
vessel, but also to indicate the rank of the officer in com- 
mand, an admiral's presence being denoted by his flag at 
the main, a vice-admiral carrying his flag ut the fore, and 
