flitter

¹ American  

[flit-er] / ˈflɪt ər /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to flutter.

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flitter ² American  

[flit-er] / ˈflɪt ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that flits.

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flitter ³ American  

[flit-er] / ˈflɪt ər /

noun

1. fine metallic fragments, especially as used for ornamentation.

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flitter ⁴ American  

[flit-er] / ˈflɪt ər /

noun

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. a fritter or pancake.

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flitter British  

/ ˈflɪtə /

verb

1. a less common word for flutter

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Etymology

Origin of flitter¹

First recorded in 1535–45; flit + -er ⁶

Origin of flitter²

First recorded in 1535–45; flit + -er ¹

Origin of flitter³

First recorded in 1840–50; from German; literally, “tinsel, spangle”

Origin of flitter⁴

Apparently by dissimilation from fritter ²

Example Sentences

Emily Flitter writes about finance and how it impacts society.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

James Crown, the billionaire financier who was a longtime board member of JPMorgan Chase and General Dynamics, died on Sunday, The Times’s Emily Flitter writes for DealBook.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

David Yaffe-Bellany reports on the crypto industry from San Francisco, and Emily Flitter and Matthew Goldstein report on finance from New York.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2023

Emily Flitter covers banking for The Times and is the author of “The White Wall: How Big Finance Bankrupts Black America,” from which this article is adapted.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2022

"Flitter flies at night because he is safest then, and because he can find plenty to eat."

From Mother West Wind 'Why' Stories by Burgess, Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo)