flinders1, n. pl. rarely sing.
(ˈflɪndəz)
Forms: 5–6 Sc. flend(e)ris, -ers, 9 Sc. (sing. and pl.) flinner(s, 8– flinders.
[cf. mod.Norw. flindra thin chip or splinter, Du. flenter fragment.]
a. Fragments, pieces, splinters. Chiefly in phrases, as to break or fly in(to flinders. Cf. flitters.
| c 1450 Golagros & Gaw. 915 Thair speris in the feild in flendris gart ga. a 1550 Christis Kirke Gr. ix, The bow in flenders flew. 1776 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' in Chambers Pop. Poems Scotl. (1862) 32 He'll their doors to flinders toss. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun ii. 129 At length she [his gun] bounced out-ower a tree, In mony a flinner. 1840 Browning Sordello vi. 437 Flinders enrich the strand, and veins the rock. 1847 Kingsley Poems, New Forest Ballad 30 The metal good and the walnut wood Did soon in flinders flee. 1949 E. Pound Pisan Cantos lxxx. 86 And the Osservanza is broken And the best de la Robbia busted to flinders. 1971 W. Burroughs Speed 42 About noon the transmission went all to flinders. |
| fig. 1786 Burns On a Scotch Bard v, 'Twill mak her poor auld heart..In flinders flee. 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc P. iii. 27 Parson Cushing could knock that air [discourse] all to flinders. |
b. transf. Pieces, scraps.
| 1869 Greenwood Seven Curses ii. 19 Her draggletail flinders of lace and ribbon. |