flutter

i. & t. [A. S. floterian, flotorian=to float about; flot =the sea; cogn. with Low Ger. flut tern =to flutter about; Ger. flattern; Dut. fladderen =to hover.] [FLOAT, v.] A. Intransitive : 1. To flap the wings rapidly; to hover. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, flutter eth over her young, and spread eth abroad her wings, so the Lord alone did lead him." -Deuteronomy xxxii. 11. 2. To move about with a show of great bustle, but without much result. 3. To be moved with quick vibrations; to flap about. IMG:content-1823.png:[blocks in formation] 3. To put into a state of agitation, alarm, or anxiety. "This place is so haunted with batts that their perpet ual fluttering endangered the putting out our linkes." Evelyn: Memoirs, vol. i. fiŭt-tër, s. [FLUTTER, v.] 1. Quick, short, and irregular vibrations; a flapping or moving rapidly. 2. A state of excitement, anxiety, or agitation; disorder, confusion.