flæp v. & n. --v. (flapped, flapping) 1 a tr.
move (wings,
the arms, etc.) up
and down
when flying, or as if flying. b intr. (of wings, the arms, etc.) move up and down;
beat. 2 intr. colloq. be agitated or panicky. 3 intr. (esp. of curtains,
loose cloth, etc.)
swing or
sway about;
flutter. 4 tr. (usu. foll. by
away, off)
strike (flies etc.)
with something broad;
drive. 5 intr. colloq. (of ears)
listen intently. --n. 1 a
piece of cloth,
wood,
paper, etc. hinged or attached by
one side only and
often used to
cover a
gap, e.g. a pocket-cover, the folded
part of an
envelope, a table-leaf. 2 one up-and-down
motion of a
wing, an arm, etc. 3 colloq. a
state of
agitation; panic (don't
get into a flap). 4 a hinged or sliding
section of a wing used to
control lift; an
aileron. 5 a
light blow with something broad. 6 an
open mushroom-top. øøflappy adj. [ME, prob. imit.]