from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flight \Flight\ (fl[imac]t), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr.
fle['o]gan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fle['o]n to flee,
G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt,
D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. [root]84. See
{Flee}, {Fly}.]
1. The act of flying; a passing through the air by the help
of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying.
[1913 Webster]
Like the night owl's lazy flight. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape
danger or expected evil; hasty departure.
[1913 Webster]
Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
--Matt. xxiv.
20.
[1913 Webster]
Fain by flight to save themselves. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Lofty elevation and excursion; a mounting; a soaring; as,
a flight of imagination, ambition, folly.
[1913 Webster]
Could he have kept his spirit to that flight,
He had been happy. --Byron.
[1913 Webster]
His highest flights were indeed far below those of
Taylor. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
4. A number of beings or things passing through the air
together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company;
the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced
in one season; as, a flight of arrows. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
Swift flights of angels ministrant. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Like a flight of fowl
Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another.
--Parker.
[1913 Webster]
6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of
shooting with it. See {Shaft}. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Challenged Cupid at the flight. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Not a flight drawn home
E'er made that haste that they have. --Beau. & Fl.
[1913 Webster]
7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.] --Wright.
[1913 Webster]
8. a trip made by or in a flying vehicle, as an airplane,
spacecraft, or aeronautical balloon.
[PJC]
9. A scheduled flight[8] on a commercial airline; as, the
next flight leaves at 8 o'clock.
[PJC]
{Flight feathers} (Zool.), the wing feathers of a bird,
including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See
{Bird}.
{To put to flight}, {To turn to flight}, to compel to run
away; to force to flee; to rout.
{to take a flight[9]}, to make a trip in an airplane,
especially a scheduled flight[9].
[1913 Webster + PJC]
Syn: Pair; set. See {Pair}.
[1913 Webster]