n. [ Cf. G. flaus, flausch, a tuft of wool or hair; akin to vliess, E. fleece; or perh. corrupted fr. rounce. ] An ornamental appendage to the skirt of a woman's dress, consisting of a strip gathered and sewed on by its upper edge around the skirt, and left hanging. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
To flutter and flounce will do nothing but batter and bruise us. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]
With his broad fins and forky tail he laves
The rising sirge, and flounces in the waves. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To deck with a flounce or flounces;
n. The act of floucing; a sudden, jerking motion of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. Sw. flundra; akin to Dan. flynder, Icel. fly&unr_;ra, G. flunder, and perh. to E. flounder, v.i. ]
☞ The common English flounder is Pleuronectes flesus. There are several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P. glabra); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus); the summer flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic coast; and the starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus). [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The act of floundering. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
They have floundered on from blunder to blunder. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. [ F. fleur de farine the flower (
Flour bolt,
Flour box
Flour dredge
Flour dredger
Flour dresser,
Flour mill,
p. a. Finely granulated; -- said of quicksilver which has been granulated by agitation during the amalgamation process. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]