Now dial. [onomatopœia expressive of a sudden movement through the air; cf. whisk.]

1

  1.  intr. To move or dance about in a frolicsome way; to frisk. Of a horse: To be restive.

2

1596.  Gosson, Pleasant Quippes for Gentlewomen, 110.

        Where fannes, and flappes of feathers fond,
  to flit away the flisking flies,
As taile of mare that hangs on ground,
  when heat of summer doth arrise.

3

a. 1689.  W. Cleland, Effigies Cleri, Poems (1697), 62.

        Objections, doubts, and every thing,
Which make some Brethren flisk and fling.

4

1786.  Burns, Auld Farmers New-Year Salut., xii.

        Thou never braing’t, an’ fetch’t, an’ fliskit;
But thy auld tail thou wad hae whiskit,
An’ spread abreed thy weel-fill’d brisket.

5

1887.  Mod. Scott. Poets, Ser. X. 58.

        And fed the hungry honey bees
  That flisked and feasted there!

6

  2.  trans. To make restless and uneasy; to put out, displease.

7

1792.  A. Douglas, Poems (1806), 71.

        But, Willie lad, tak’ my advice,
  An’ at it binna fliskit.

8

1862.  Hislop, Prov. Scot. (1868), 95. Fashious fools are easiest flisket.—Troublesome or fretful persons are easily offended.

9

  3.  To flick, knock about. Also, to spurt, sprinkle.

10

1847.  Halliwell, Flisk, to flick, as with a whip. Linc.

11

1876.  Whitby Gloss., Flisk, to squirt liquids.

12

1890.  Gloucester Gloss., s.v. Don’t get flisking that corn about.

13