Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Flight?

\Flight\ (fl[imac]t), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fle['o]gan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fle['o]n to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. [root]84. See {Flee}, {Fly}.] 1. The act or flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying. Like the night owl's lazy flight. --Shak. 2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected evil; hasty departure. Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. --Matt. xxiv. 20. Fain by flight to save themselves. --Shak. 3. Lofty elevation and excursion;a mounting; a soa?ing; as, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly. Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy. --Byron. His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor. --Macaulay. 4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows. --Swift. Swift flights of angels ministrant. --Milton. Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. --Shak. 5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. --Parker. 6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See {Shaft}. [Obs.] Challenged Cupid at the flight. --Shak. Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have. --Beau. & Fl. 7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.] --Wright. {Flight feathers} (Zo["o]l.), the wing feathers of a bird, including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See {Bird}. {To put to flight}, {To turn to flight}, to compel to run away; to force to flee; to rout. Syn: Pair; set. See {Pair}.