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} (Zo["o]l.), 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]