Sc. and north. dial. Also 8 flauchter, 8–9 flawter. [app. f. FLAUGHT sb.2; cf. FLICHTER, FLOGHTER vbs.]
1. intr. To make a fluttering motion; also of a light, to flicker.
1789. D. Davidson, Seasons, 84.
| The wild-duck, roused by the fowler’s tread, | |
| Fast flaughters, quacking, to the farther shore. |
1816. Scott, Antiq., xxi. ‘He wad hae seen a glance o’ the light frae the door o’ the cave, flaughtering against the hazels on the other bank.’
2. a. intr. To be in a flutter; to be angry or afraid. b. trans. To put into a flutter; to frighten, flurry.
1787. Grose, Prov. Gloss., Flawter, to be angry or afraid. N.
1847. Whistle-binkie (Sc. Songs), (1890), II. 238.
| She said, if again to our town-end he cam’, | |
| Or look’d but the gate o’ her daughter, | |
| Wi’ an auld hazle rung or a wheel-barrow tram, | |
| His muckle thick skull she would flaughter, would flaughter! |
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., ‘I was sair flowter’d.’
Hence Flaughter sb., a fluttering motion, flutter.
1789. D. Davidson, Seasons, 42.
| Down frae the scra-built shed the swallows pop, | |
| Wi’ lazy flaughter, on the gutter dub. |
