WORD OF THE DAY: FLINK

​FLINK

ADJ.
nimble, agile, active ...1866 Sc. & Eng. dial.

NOUN
1. figure, appearance ...1847 Eng. dial. 
2. a bad temper, a tantrum ...1882 Eng. dial.
3. a pert or insolent kind of deportment; a conceited, jaunty air; a frolic, a flirtation; a good time, a 'fling' ...1882 Sc. & Eng. & Amer dial.
4. a fling, jerk; a blow with the tips of the finger ...1882 Eng. dial.

VERB
1. to walk jauntily or nimbly ...1866 Sc.
2. to comb the hair ...1866 Eng. dial. 
3. to fling, to toss, to jerk, to throw with a jerk; to sprinkle, shake ...1867 Eng. dial.
4. to behave in a cowardly manner; to shirk one's duty ...1887 Amer. dial.
5. to be agile, nimble, active ...1895 Eng. dial.
6. to romp, to frolic; to flirt ...1908 Sc. 
7. to play hooky, to cut class ...1969 Amer. dial.
8. to flick with the fingertips ...1978 Amer. dial.

ETYMOLOGY
vb. 4  - possibly from flinch (vb. to draw back through failure in courage, endurance, or resolve) 

FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1847 - see EXAMPLE below

EXAMPLE
"...Laur! if you uny cude bit zee
Tha vlink thits cuts be Bets and me
Wen us go'th out to wahlk;
Civillins stare way all thare hyes,
An as es cut'th out droo Mount Wise,
(We two be purty murch wan size)
'Tis good ta hear min tahlk....."
From: Letters & Poems Ts Es Brither Jan, in the Devonshire Dialect
- Nathan Hogg