flush 
surface, or in the same plane or line ; being in 
exact alinement ; even. 
A room witli one dormer window looking out, and some- 
what down, upon a building opposite, which still stands, 
flush with the street. (1. '. Cable, Old Creole Days, p. 2.1. 
Bead and flush work, ami bead, flush, and square 
work. S,T /./. .- Flush panel, a panel having its 
face even with the face of the stik-. 
flush? (flush), v. [< flush"!, a.] I. trans. 1. To 
make flush or level. 
In driving a heading, particular care should be taken 
that unnecessary cost in flushing the clear profile does not 
arise. Kinder, -Mod. High Explosives, p. 23. 
2. In weaving, to throw on the surface over sev- 
eral threads without intersecting, as in twill- 
ing, or forming tissue figures. 
There are, consequently, two methods that can be used 
lor flunking or throwing the thread to form the tissue fig- 
ure. A. Barlow, Weaving, p. 176. 
To flush a joint, to fill a joint, as in masonry, until the 
filling material is in the plane of the surfaces of the bodies 
joined. To flush up, in bricklaying, to fill up the verti- 
cal joints of brick with mortar. 
II. intrans. In weaving, to flow or float over 
several threads without intersection : said of 
threads in twilling or tissue-weaving. 
So distinct are the threads kept [in tissue-weaving] that 
only sufficient intersections are made to keep them held 
together. They fio&tor Jtuah upon the surface of the cloth 
rather than form a component part of its substance. 
A. Barlow, Weaving, p. 175. 
flush 8 (flush), a. [E. dial., also ./toft (and flitch, 
officious, lively), other forms of flidge, unas- 
sibilated flig, all dial, forms of E. fledge, < ME. 
flcgge, fligge, flygge, able to fly: see fledge, a., 
and fly s , a., which are doublets.] Same as 
fledge. [Prov. Eng.] 
flush 8 (flush), v. i. [E. dial., < flusJfi, a. Same 
as fledge, v. t.] To become able to fly: same 
as fledge. [Prov. Eng.] 
The birds have/twAd and Hied. 
Courtney, West Cornwall Gloss. (K. D. S.) 
flush 9 (flush), . and a. [Altered in form, by 
confusion with flush in other senses, < OF. flux, 
a flowing, running, rushing out, a flux, also a 
flush at cards, = Sp. flux = It. flusso, a flux, a 
flush at cards (i. e., a 'run' of cards): hence 
also (from OF.) OFlem. fluys, three cards of the 
same suit, fluys-spel, a game of cards, fliiysen, 
play cards; < ii.fluxus, a flow: Bee flux.] I. n. 1. 
In card-playing, a hand in which all the cards, 
or a certain specified number of them, are of the 
same suit. 
There was nothing silly in it [whist], like the nob in 
cribbage nothing superfluous. Wo flushes, that most ir- 
rational of all pleas that a reasonable being can set up. 
l,,ti,,>,. Mrs. Battle on Whist. 
2f. A certain game of cards. 
Flussata [It. ], a play at cardes called Flush. Florio. 
Bobtail flush, in ?w>Avr, four cards of one suit aild one nf 
another suit : so called because there is a chance of filling 
the flush by drawing a suitable card. Straight or royal 
flush, in poker, a sequence of five cards of the same suit. 
II. a. In the game of poker, consisting of 
cards all of which are of the same suit : as, a 
flush hand. 
flush-box 1 (flush'boks), n. {<flus)fl + box?.] 
A device for flushing the bowls of water-closets. 
It is a rectangular 
box or tank (a com- 
mon form being 
that shown in the 
cut), the supply of 
water to which is 
regulated by a ball- 
and-levervalve that 
prevents the water 
from rising in the 
tank above a cer- 
tain level. The dis- 
charge of the wa- 
ter is controlled by 
a valve which may 
be opened by a lever, and may be closed (sometimes auto- 
matically) when a limited quantity of water has run out. 
Another kind automatically flushes the bowl at stated in- 
tervals, acting on the principle of the intermittent siphon. 
Also called flush-tank. 
flush-box'-* (flush'boks), n. [< flush? + box?.] 
In tfleg., an oblong box, the top or cover of 
which is flush or even with the surface of the 
ground : used in drawing electric wires into un- 
derground pipes or conduits. See the extract. 
Oblong drawing-in Iwxes, 30 inches by 11 inches, and 12 
inches deep, with lids formed of an iron frame, into which 
a piece of flagstone is fixed, are placed at every 100 yards, 
if the line be straight, and nearer if it be curved. They 
are fixed level with the surface of the pavement, and are 
therefore called flush-boxes. 
Culley, Practical Telegraphy, p. 157. 
flush-decked (flush'dekt), a. Having a flush 
deck : as, a flush-decked steamer. See deck, 2. 
flushed (flusht), p. a. [Pp. of flush 2 , v.] In calico- 
printing, spread beyond the limits of the pat- 
tern : said of a color. 
Waste-preventive Flush-box. 
2290 
flusher (flush'er), n. [E. dial., also./Zos/ier, prob. 
in part forflesher, i. e., ' butcher ' (cf. flush* for 
Jlculi): see fleshcraiid flasher 2 .] A name of the 
red-backed shrike or lesser butcher-bird of Eu- 
rope, Lanius or Enneoctonus collurio. 
flushing 1 (flush'ing), n. [Verbal n. of flush 1 , v.] 
A glow of red, as in the face : as, the disease 
is characterized by frequent flushings of the 
face. 
flushing 2 (flush'ing), n. [Verbal n. offluslfi, v.] 
The act of drenching with a copious flow; a 
washing out. 
flushing 3 (flush'ing), . [Verbal n. ot flush', r.~\ 
1. In weaving, a thread which, in process of 
twilling, spans several threads of the warp 
without intersection; a floating. 2. A kind 
of stout woolen cloth. 
He walked his battlements under fire, as some stout 
skipper paces his deck in a suit of flushing, calmly oblivi- 
ous of the April drops that fall on his woollen armour. 
C. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, xliii. 
flushingly (flush'ing-li), adv. In a flushing 
manner. 
flushing-rim (flush'ing-rim), n. In house-pi umb- 
ing, a hollow rim pierced with holes surround- 
ing a basin, through which water can be turned 
into the basin to flush it out. 
When the pull is drawn down, a copious supply of water 
flows into all parts of the bowl through the flushing-rim. 
The Century, XXIX. 283. 
ilushness (flush'nes), n. [< flush, a,, + -ness.'] 
The state of being flush; abundance. 
Whose interest it is, like hernshaws, to hide the meager- 
ness of their bodies by the fluthnest of their feathers. 
!>/'. Gaudeii, Hooker, p. 37. 
flush-pot (flush'pot), n. In plumbing, any ves- 
sel or receptacle fitted to contain a supply of 
fluid for flushing out a pipe or passage. 
There is built beneath the sink, and in connection with 
it, nfluth-pot large enough to hold several gallons of wa- 
ter. The Century, XXIX. 264. 
flush-tank (flush'tangk), n. Same asflush-box 1 . 
flush-wheel (flush'hwel), n. Same as norm. 
flusk (flusk), v. i. [Cf. flush* andflisk.] 1. To 
fly out suddenly. 2. To quarrel. [Prov. Eng.] 
flusker (flus'ker), . t. [Freq. of flusk.} 1. To 
fly irregularly. 2. To be confused or giddy. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
fluster (flus'ter), r. [Prob. of Scand. origin; 
cf. Icel. flaustra, be flustered, flaustr, fluster, 
hurry. Cf. flusker.] I. (rang. 1. To confuse; 
embarrass, as by a surprise; cause to flush 
and move or speak hurriedly and confusedly; 
flurry. 
- Do they use to play perfect? are they never fluttered f 
B. JonsoH, Bartholomew Fair, v. 3. 
Come to winds that blew all four pints at the same min- 
it, why, they fluttered him. 11. B. Stowe, Oldtown, p. 10. 
2. To confuse with drink; make hot and rosy 
with drinking; fuddle. 
Three lads of Cyprus noble, swelling spirits, 
That hold their honours in a wary distance, . . . 
Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups. 
SAo*., Othello, ii. 3. 
A sober man is Percivale, and pure ; 
But once in life was fluxter'd with new wine, 
Then paced for coolness in the chapel-yard. 
Tennyson, Merlin and Vivien. 
= Syn. 1. To excite, disconcert, disturb, perturb, flurry, 
worry. 
II. intrans. To become confused, as with 
drink; befuddled; be flurried, 
fluster (flus'ter), n. [< fluster, v. Cf. var. flus- 
trum.] Confusion or embarrassment caused by 
surprise ; mental confusion and excitement or 
perturbation; flurry. 
But when Caska adds to his natural impudence the flut- 
ter of a bottle, that which fools called fire when he was 
sober all men abhor as outrage when he is drunk. 
Tattler, No. 252. 
flusterate, flustrate (flus'ter-at, -trat), v. t.; 
pret. and pp. flusterated, flustrated, ppr. fluster- 
ating, flustrating. [Irreg. < fluster + -ate 2 .] 
To fluster; fuddle; confuse. [Colloq.] 
We were coming down Essex street one night a little 
flustrated, and I was giving him the word to alarm the 
watch. Steele, Spectator, No. 493. 
flusteration, flustration (flus-ter-a'shon, -tra'- 
shpn), n. The act of flustering, or the state 
of being flustered ; confusion; flurry. [Colloq.] 
With a good oaken sapling he dusted his doublet for 
all his golden chease-toaster, and flpping me under his 
arm, carried me huom, I nose not how, being I was in such 
a fluttration. Smollett, Humphrey Clinker, I. 126. 
flusterer (flus'ter-er),. The common American 
coot, Fulica americana : more fully called black 
flusterer. Lawson, 1709. [North Carolina.] 
In Carolina they are called flusterers, from the noise 
they make in flying over the surface of the water. 
A. Wilton, Amer. Ornith. 
flute 
Flustra (fius'trii), . [NL., said to be formed 
from AS. fluntrian (once, glossing L. plectere), 
plait, braid.] 
The typical ge- 
nus of polyzo- 
ans or bryozo- 
aus of the fam- 
ily Flustridas; 
the sea-mats. 
The species as- 
sume a braiic-hiiiy 
form, with broad, 
flat ramitlcations, 
making a matted 
surface. Oneofthe 
commonest six-rif* 
is F.foliacea, found 
on the sea-coast 
among seaweed, 
which it greatly re- 
sembles ; but the 
frond when closely 
examined is found 
to be clothed all 
over its surface 
Sea-mat (Flttstra foliacfa). with a network of 
quadrangular cells 
minutely toothed at the angles, each inhabited by a little 
individual polyzoan having a mouth fringed with tenta- 
cles. 
flustrate, flustration. See flusterate, flustera- 
tion. 
Flustridae (flus'tri-de), n. pi. [NL., < Flustra 
+ -idai.] A family of Polyzoa, of the suborder 
Chilostomata and order Gynmoliemata, typified 
by the genus Flustra; the sea-mats or lemon- 
weeds. They have a membranous zoarium, either ex- 
panded and foliaceous or ligulate, usually erect, some- 
times decurrent on its base of support, and unilaminar or 
bilaminar, with the zooeciaquincuncially disposed, without 
a raised border, more or less open and membranous in 
front, and the avlcularia, when present, usually vicarious. 
Flustrina (flus-tri'nji), n. pi, [NL., < Flustra 
+ -ina.~\ 1. A superfamily of Flustrida: con- 
taining flattened forms with even surface and 
quadrate cells. 2. [Used as a singular.] A 
genus of mollusks. IPOrbigny, 1852. 
flustrine (flus'trin), a. Of or pertaining to the 
Flustrina or Flustrida;. 
flustrum (flus'trum), n. A colloquial variant 
of fluster. 
We may take the thing quietly, without being in a flus- 
trmn. Miss Edyeworth, Absentee, v. 
flute 1 (flot), n. [Mod. E. (taking the place of 
earlier flout 1 , (j. v.,and^oi( 2 , q. v.), < . flute, 
now written flute, a contr. of earlier fleiite (two 
syllables, orig. three), < OF. fleute,flaute,flahute, 
and (with false silent s) fleiiste, flaiiste, flaliuste 
= Pr. Sp. flauta = Pg.frauta, flauta = it.flauto, 
m. (ML. refl. flauta), a flute; cf. OD. fluyt, D. 
fluit = LG. fleute, fleite = MHG. rloite, G'. flote 
= Dan. fliiite = Sw.flfijt = Bohem. flauta = 
Pol. flet, etc., of F. origin; verbal n. of OF. 
flaiiter, blow the flute, lit. blow, prob. trans- 
posed from "flatuer, < ML. 'flatuare, an as- 
sumed verb. < L. flatus (flatu-), a blowing, < 
flare, blow, breathe, = E. blow 1 .] 1. In music, 
an instrument of the pipe kind, in which the 
tone is produced by the impact of a current of 
air upon the edge of a hole in the side of a tube. 
See pipe, fife. Flutes are either direct or transverse, 
the former (nutes-a-bec) having a mouthpiece or whistle 
at the upper end of the tube, which is held straight away 
from the player's mouth, and the latter (transverse flutes) 
having a mouth-hole in the side of the tube, which is held 
across the player's body. In both species finger-holes in 
the tube control the pitch of the tones; and in both in- 
creased force in blowing raises the pitch an octave. The 
exact explanation of the production of the tone is some- 
what uncertain. It is asserted that the stream of air, be- 
ing usually flat, acts like a free reed in the opening, play- 
ing back and forth like a solid tongue. 
What time ye hear the sound of the comet, flute, harp, 
. . . and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship 
the golden image. Dan. iii. 5. 
The oars were silver, 
Which to the tune of flute* kept stroke. 
Shak., A. and C., ii. 2. 
Specifically (a) In anc. mutic, a direct flute with a coni- 
cal wooden tube having a varying number of finger-holes. 
Sometimes two tubes were attached to one mouthpiece, 
(ft) In medieval mujtic, one of a family of direct flutes, com- 
prising treble, alto, tenor, and bass varieties, all having 
conical wooden tubes with several finger-holes. The mod- 
ern flageolet and the penny whistle are derivatives of the 
treble kind, (c) In modern music, a transverse flute, hav- 
ing a conical or cylindrical wooden or metal tube with 
holes controlled in part by levers, and having a compass 
nf about three octaves upward from middle C : also called 
the German flute. The change from the medieval direct 
flutes took place earlyin the eighteenth century. The best 
model for orchestral use was invented by Theobald Boehm 
in 1832. The piccolo-flute or piccolo is a flute giving tones 
an octave higher than the ordinary flute. 
