flick

n. [ See Flick, v. t. ] 1. A light quick stroke or blow, esp. with something pliant; a flirt; also, the sound made by such a blow.

She actually took the whip out of his hand and gave a flick to the pony. Mrs. Humphry Ward. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A motion picture; as, I went to see a flick on Friday. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Flicked p. pr. & vb. n. Flicking. ] [ Cf. Flicker. ] 1. To whip lightly or with a quick jerk; to flap; as, to flick a horse; to flick the dirt from boots. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To throw, snap, or toss with a jerk; to flirt; as, to flick a whiplash.

Rude boys were flicking butter pats across chaos. Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Flickered p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering. ] [ OE. flikeren, flekeren, to flutter, AS. flicerian, flicorian, cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. √84. Cf. Flacker. ] 1. To flutter; to flap the wings without flying. [ 1913 Webster ]

And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To waver unsteadily, like a flame in a current of air, or when about to expire; as, the flickering light. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shadows flicker to fro. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of wavering or of fluttering; fluctuation; sudden and brief increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The golden-winged woodpecker (Colaptes aurutus); -- so called from its spring note. Called also yellow-hammer, high-holder, pigeon woodpecker, and yucca. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cackle of the flicker among the oaks. Thoureau. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a flickering manner. [ 1913 Webster ]