Also 8 (9 dial.) flutter-. [f. FLITTER v. + MOUSE, in imitation of Ger. fledermaus (OHG. fledermûs, MHG. vledermûs) or Du. vledermuis (in Kilian, vledder-muys), f. the vb. which appears in OHG. as fledarôn to flutter. Cf. FLICKER-, FLINDERMOUSE.] A bat.

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1547.  Boorde, Brev. Health, lvi. 25 b. The bloude of a backe or flytter mouse.

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1637.  B. Jonson, The Sad Shepherd, II. ii.

        Green-bellied Snakes! blue Fire-drakes in the Sky!
And giddy Flitter-mice with Leather Wings!

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1725.  Sloane, Jamaica, II. 330. Vespertilio. The Batt, or flutter Mouse.

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1870.  Swinburne, Ess. & Stud. (1875), 39. The dreadful daylight has come; the flitter-mouse is blind, the polecat strays about squealing, the glowworm has lost his glory, the fox, alas, sheds tears.

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  b.  Used as a term of playful endearment.

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1610.  B. Jonson, Alch., V. iv.

                    My fine flitter-mouse,
My bird o’ the night.

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