Flit

[flit] /flɪt/

verb (used without object), flitted, flitting.
1.
to move lightly and swiftly; fly, dart, or skim along:
bees flitting from flower to flower.
2.
to flutter, as a bird.
3.
to pass quickly, as time:
hours flitting by.
4.
Chiefly Scot. and North England.

verb (used with object), flitted, flitting.
5.
Chiefly Scot. to remove; transfer; oust or dispossess.
noun
6.
a light, swift movement; flutter.
7.
Scot. and North England. a change of residence; instance of moving to a new address.
8.
Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a male homosexual.
/flɪt/
verb (intransitive) flits, flitting, flitted
1.
to move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
2.
to fly rapidly and lightly; flutter
3.
to pass quickly; fleet: a memory flitted into his mind
4.
(Scot & Northern English, dialect) to move house
5.
(Brit, informal) to depart hurriedly and stealthily in order to avoid obligations
6.
an informal word for elope
noun
7.
the act or an instance of flitting
8.
(slang, mainly US) a male homosexual
9.
(Brit, informal) a hurried and stealthy departure in order to avoid obligations (esp in the phrase do a flit)
10.
See moonlight flit
v.

c.1200, flutten “convey, move, take, carry away, go away,” perhaps from Old Norse flytja “to remove, bring.”

Theire desire … is to goe to theire newe masters eyther on a Tewsday, or on a Thursday; for … they say Munday flitte, Neaver sitte. [Henry Best, farming & account book, 1641]

Related: Flitted; flitting. As a noun, from 1835.

noun

A male homosexual; effeminate man (1940s+)