■ verb
1》 behave in such a way as to demonstrate a playful sexual attraction to someone.
2》 ( ~ with ) experiment casually with (an idea or activity).
↘deliberately risk (danger or death).
3》 (of a bird) flap or wave (its wings or tail) with a quick flicking motion.
■ noun a person who habitually ~s.
Derivatives
~y adjective
Origin
C16 (orig. in sense 'give someone a sharp blow'; the earliest noun senses were 'joke, gibe' and 'flighty girl'): appar. symbolic, the elements fl- and -irt both suggesting sudden movement; cf. flick .