Dictionary

flighty en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈflaɪti/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From flight + -y. Compare Dutch vluchtig (“volatile; fleeting; cursory”), German flüchtig (“volatile; fleeting; momentary; quick”), Danish flygtig (“elusive; evasive”), Swedish flyktig.

Meanings

1. Given to unplanned and silly ideas or actions.
2. (of a bird) That flies easily or often.
   • "We know that flighty birds suffer from greater risk of raptor predation, and I assume that it is useful to understand the effects of urbanization because flighty species may be more vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance." 2013, Diego Gil, Henrik Brumm, Avian Urban Ecology:
3. (dated) Swift.
   • Permanent way and other checks then somewhat slowed down this flighty progress. 1962 July, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Modern Railways, page 44:

Forms

Deriveds

flightiness · unflighty · flightily

Translations (41)

ast antoxadiegu (given to silly ideas) · he קַל דַּעַת (given to silly ideas) · gl caprichoso (given to silly ideas) · cs rozmarný (given to silly ideas) · cs přelétavý (given to silly ideas) · el φαντασιόπληκτος (given to silly ideas) · fr insouciant (given to silly ideas) · es volador ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · el επιπόλαιος (given to silly ideas) · cmn 輕率 /轻率 (given to silly ideas) · fi kevytmielinen (given to silly ideas) · cmn 飛行力強的 /飞行力强的 ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · ga giodalach (given to silly ideas) · tr hercai (given to silly ideas) · eo facilanima (given to silly ideas) · de schrullig (given to silly ideas) · gl livián (given to silly ideas) · ota خفیف (given to silly ideas) · cmn 善飛的 /善飞的 ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · ga eitleach ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · cs nestálý (given to silly ideas) · ast antoxón (given to silly ideas) · bg лекомислен (given to silly ideas) · cy penchwiban (given to silly ideas) · fr candide (given to silly ideas) · gl antolladizo (given to silly ideas) · ga arduallach (given to silly ideas) · cy penysgafn (given to silly ideas) · ga aidhmeannach (given to silly ideas) · el ελαφρόμυαλος (given to silly ideas) · gl voluble (given to silly ideas) · fi hyvä lentäjä ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · sq ëndërrimtar (given to silly ideas) · oc voladís ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · ga aerach (given to silly ideas) · de albern (given to silly ideas) · cmn 輕浮 /轻浮 (given to silly ideas) · ru взбалмошный (given to silly ideas) · bg вятърничав (given to silly ideas) · oc volaire ((of a bird) that flies easily or often) · de flatterhaft (given to silly ideas)