flighty

English

Etymology

From flight +‎ -y. Compare Dutch vluchtig (“volatile; fleeting; cursory”), German flüchtig (“volatile; fleeting; momentary; quick”), Danish flygtig (“elusive; evasive”), Swedish flyktig.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈflaɪti/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪti

Adjective

flighty (comparative flightier, superlative flightiest)

  1. Given to unplanned and silly ideas or actions.
  2. (of a bird) That flies easily or often.
    • 2013, Diego Gil, Henrik Brumm, Avian Urban Ecology‎[1]:
      "We know that flighty birds suffer from greater risk of raptor predation, and I assume that it is useful to understand the effects of urbanization because flighty species may be more vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance."
  3. (dated) Swift.
    • 1962 July, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Modern Railways, page 44:
      Permanent way and other checks then somewhat slowed down this flighty progress.

Derived terms

Translations

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