flitting

English

Etymology

From flit +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (RA) IPA^(key): /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈflɪtɪŋ/, /-ɾɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -ɪtɪŋ
• Hyphenation: flit‧ting

Noun

flitting (plural flittings)

1. gerund of flit: the motion of something that flits.

   the flittings of birds

   • 1830 June, Alfred Tennyson, “Mariana”, in Poems. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1842, →OCLC, stanza II, page 11:

     After the flitting of the bats, / When thickest dark did trance the sky, / She drew the casement-curtain by, / And glanced athwart the glooming flats.

   • 1845, Dublin University Magazine, volume 25, page 39:

     The hare lends its form to the witch for her twilight flittings and scuddings to the place of some unhallowed rendezvous.

2. (Northern England, Scotland) The act of moving from one residence to another; moving house.
   • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 87:

     Uncle Billy came home for the weekend to help with the flitting.

Verb

flitting

1. present participle and gerund of flit

Adjective

flitting (comparative more flitting, superlative most flitting)

1. Brief, likely to be of short duration.
   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXXI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 102:

     Poor Margarita's flitting life appeared to concentrate all its powers for this long desired visit, and her eyes seemed to emit a supernatural light, when they were indeed assured that Glentworth stood before her;...