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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

5 entries under this word

Flash

Flāsh, n.

noun

n. [Fr. flèche, arrow, flèche à feu, a projectile that was thrown from the cross-bow, to light up the works of the besiegers, in the dark; flèche ardente, a burning arrow thrown to set on fire the enemy’s works; Fr. flèche, Pr., Sp., & Pg. flecha, O. Sp. & Pg. frecha, It. freccia, from D. flits, M. H. Ger. vliz, arrow, bow, cross-bow.]

  1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
  2. A sudden and brilliant burst; a momentary brightness or show.

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shak. No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. Wirt. 3. The time of a burst of light; an instant; a very brief period. The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.

  1. A reservoir and sluice-way placed on the side of a navigable stream, just above a shoal, with a view to pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal. Craig.
  2. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  3. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, &c., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to brandy and rum. Craig.

Flāsh, n.

noun

n. The slang language of thieves, robbers, and the like; the vulgar tongue. Grose.

Flāsh, a.

adjective

a. Low and vulgar; as, flash language.

Flāsh, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. FLASHED (flāsht); p. pr. & vb. n. FLASHING.]

Sense 1. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy.

Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch-words of unnumbered struggles. Talfourd.

The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. M. Arnold.

Sense 2. To burst or break forth with a flood of flame and light; as, the powder flashed in the pan.

Sense 3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to make a quick and unexpected transit.

Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other. Shak.

A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act. Tennyson.

Synonyms—FLASH, GLITTER, GLEAM, GLISTEN, GLISTER. Flash differs from glitter and gleam in denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. A diamond may glitter, but it does not flash. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.

Flāsh, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light; to convey by a flame, or by a quick and startling motion; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.

The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames. Milton.

Sense 2. To throw up, as water, in darting and gleaming jets. [Obs.]

He rudely flashed the waves. Spencer.