flutter

v. & n.
—v.
1 a intr. flap the wings in flying or trying to fly (butterflies fluttered in the sunshine). b tr. flap (the wings).
2 intr. fall with a quivering motion (leaves fluttered to the ground).
3 intr. & tr. move or cause to move irregularly or tremblingly (the wind fluttered the flag).
4 intr. go about restlessly; flit; hover.
5 tr. agitate, confuse.
6 intr. (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.
7 intr. tremble with excitement or agitation.
—n.
1 a the act of fluttering. b an instance of this.
2 tremulous excitement; a sensation (was in a flutter; caused a flutter with his behaviour).
3 Brit. sl. a small bet, esp. on a horse.
4 an abnormally rapid but regular heartbeat.
5 Aeron. an undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft etc. under stress.
6 Mus. a rapid movement of the tongue (as when rolling one's rs) in playing a wind instrument.
7 Electronics a rapid variation of pitch, esp. of recorded sound (cf. WOW(2)).
8 a vibration.
Phrases and idioms:
flutter the dovecots cause alarm among normally imperturbable people.
Derivatives:
flutterer n. fluttery adj.
Etymology: OE floterian, flotorian, frequent. form rel. to FLEET(5)