to put to flight

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]