Obs. exc. dial. [Onomatopœic, with frequentative suffix common in vbs. expressing agitated motion; cf. FLASK v.1]
1. intr. To flap about (as a fish); to flutter (as a bird); to flounder.
1681. Chetham, Angler’s Vade-m., vii. § 5 (1689), 76. Hale him not too near the top of the Water, lest by flaskering he break your Line.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), Lanc. Dialect, Wks. (1775), 29. Deawn coom I, Arsy-versy, weh Nip eh meh Arm i’th Wetur, Nip I leet fend for hur fell’n on flaskert int’ eh geete how’d on o Sawgh.
1888. Sheffield Gloss., Flasker, to struggle, to flutter as a bird does its wings.
2. trans. To smother, stifle; also, to bewilder.
1820. R. Wilbraham, Cheshire Gloss., Flasker, to choke, or stifle; a person lying in the mud and unable to extricate himself is said to be flaskered.
1884. Cheshire Gloss., ‘For goodness sake, childer, howd yer din, aw’m fair flaskert wi’ th’ nize.’
