FLICKER

I. verb (~ed; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English flikeren, from Old English flicorian Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to move irregularly or unsteadily ; flutter , to burn or shine fitfully or with a fluctuating light , to appear briefly, transitive verb to cause to ~, to produce by ~ing, ~ingly adverb II. noun Date: 1822 1. an act of ~ing, a sudden brief movement, a momentary quickening , a slight indication ; hint , 2. a wavering light, a repeated momentary defect in a cathode-ray tube image caused especially by slow scanning of the screen, movie , ~y adjective III. noun Etymology: probably imitative of its call Date: 1809 a large barred and spotted North American woodpecker ( Colaptes auratus ) with a brown back that commonly forages on the ground for ants