Obs. [f. FLIGHT sb.1 Cf. FLEET a.]
1. Swift, fleet, fast-moving.
1581. B. R., trans. Herodotus, 69. Among the gods they geue honour to the Sunne alone, vnto whom they consecrate and offer vp horses: which manner of oblation they ordayned for this reason: that to the quickest, and swiftest of all the gods, they might likewise offer the most flight and swifte creature that lyueth on the earth.
1596. Copley, Fig for Fort., 21.
| So flight is Melancholie to darke disgrace | |
| And deadly drowsie to a bright good morrow. |
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XXVII. x. 321. This man, a certain twofold fortune (as the Poets faine) carrying with her flight-wings [L. præpetibus pinnis], shewed unto the world one while a bountifull benefactor and advauncer of his friends to great fortunes, otherwhiles againe a vengible wayt-layer, and by bloudie grudges and displeasures doing much mischiefe.
1643. H. More, Song of Soul, II. III. III. lix.
| That courses of unlike extension, | |
| Vastly unlike, in like time shall be run | |
| By the flight starres. |
b. used as sb.: A swift runner. ? nonce-use.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1657), 28. Young men called Celeres, as we would say, flights, for their swiftnesse and speed in executing of his commandements.
2. Of oats: Light. (Cf. FLIGHT sb.1 11).
1797. A. Young, Agric. Suffolk, 56. The light, called also flight oats, are known only on the poorest sands, and in the fen district.
