Middle English Dictionary Entry
flappen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | flappen v. P. flappede, flapte. |
| Etymology | Cp. Du. flappen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To beat or strike (something); to slap at (flies); ~ on, to beat (someone), to thresh (grain); ~ in sonder, to slash in two; ~ at, to strike at; (b) ~ with hond, to clap the hands; (c) to dash (something) about, to shake; to beat (the wings); (d) ?to put out (a fire) as with a blow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)84/90 : Þey flapped on his feire flesch.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.174 : Þenne Faytors..flowen to Bernes, And flapten [vr. flappid; B vr. flappiden] on with fleiles.
- a1425 Symb.Pass.(Roy 17.A.27)48 : Þe honde þat flapped under þin here.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)164 : Flappyn wythe a flappe: Flabello.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2781 : All þe flesche of þe flanke he flappes in sondyre.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)225 : Faste I gan flowe, Fele folke..to flappyn & to flene.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7674 : Tedius..fflappit at hym felly with a fyne swerde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5440 : Gripis & griffons..felly flappid at þe faces of þe fell erles.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)163 : Flapp, Instryment to fflappe with fflyys.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)247/134 : Now fall I the fyrst to flap on hys hyde.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.97.8 : The flodis shuln flappe for ioȝe with hond togidere.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Lam.2.15 : Flappeden [L plauserunt] vp on thee with hondus alle the passeres bi the wey.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.25.6 : Thou flappidist with hond..and ioyedist of al desijr on the lond of Israel.
c
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)752 : [The greyhound] hente þe adder in strong ger And flapped here al aboute his er.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)143a/b : Sche smytiþ and flappiþ [L excutit] hire wynges.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)145b/b : Þis bridde..smytiþ oþir flappiþ wiþ hire byle [L conquatente rostro] and makeþ a noyse as it were wiþ a canne.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11795 : Ten tymes..hit fest was on fyre, & flappit out onone Vnto smorther & smoke.