fley

American  

[fley] / fleɪ /

verb

Chiefly Scot.

fleyed, fleying

1. to frighten; terrify.

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fley British  

/ fleɪ /

verb

1. to be afraid or cause to be afraid

2. (tr) to frighten away; scare

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Other Word Forms

• fleyedly adverb
• fleyedness noun

Etymology

Origin of fley

1175–1225; Middle English flaien, fleien, Old English -flīgan (in ā-flȳgan ); cognate with Old Norse fleygia to cause to fly. fly ²

Example Sentences

Fley, Flay, flā, v.t. to cause to fly: to frighten.—v.i. to be frightened.

From Project Gutenberg

Sigrun asks Helge: Hverir lata fljota fley vid backa, hvar hermegir heima eigud?

From Project Gutenberg

Gin ye wush a douce body, auldfarrant and gash,     Unco' waukrife and couthie and braw, Ower eydent wi' daft clishmaclavers to fash,     Or to thole whigmaleeries ava; Mak's nae collieshangie wad fley a bit flee,     But is siccer and dour as a stot; Tak's the scone and the kebbuck and carries the gree;     Ye'll be spierin', gude faith! for a Scot.

From Project Gutenberg

It was Svanè lyle's sister-son, 70 Whan afore Rosmer he wan, His heart it quook, and his body shook, Sae fley'd, he scarce dow stand.

From Project Gutenberg

“It will hae been some callant trying to fley us, that’s a’.

From Project Gutenberg