Flicker

v. i. [imp. & p. p. FLICKERED; p. pr. & vb. n. FLICKERING.] [A-S. flyccerian, fliccerian, flicerian, flicrian, to move the wings, to flutter, from flyge, able to fly; O. H. Ger. flogarôn, O. D. fliggheren, to flutter, N. D. flikkeren, to twinkle, O. Sw. fleckra, to move often, Scot. flehker, flyker, to flutter, to quiver. See FLEDGE.] To flutter; to flap without flying; to keep in motion without removing; to waver or fluctuate, like a flame in a current of air.

And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing. Dryden.