fleer

¹ American  

[fleer] / flɪər /

verb (used without object)

1. to grin or laugh coarsely or mockingly.

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verb (used with object)

1. to mock or deride.

noun

1. a fleering look; a jeer or gibe.

fleer ² American  

[flee-er] / ˈfli ər /

noun

1. a person who flees.

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fleer British  

/ flɪə /

verb

1. to grin or laugh at; scoff; sneer

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noun

1. a derisory glance or grin

Other Word Forms

• fleeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of fleer¹

1350–1400; Middle English flerien (v.) < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian flire a grin

Origin of fleer²

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; flee, -er ¹

Example Sentences

To flewer or fleer is to smile in that grinning manner which shows all the teeth.

From It Might Have Been The Story of the Gunpowder Plot by Irwin, M. (Madelaine)

And cannot I likewise, when time serves, and company is disposed to be kindly affected with it, smile and fleer as takingly?

From History of English Humour, Vol. 1 With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour by L'Estrange, Alfred Guy Kingan

Maria, a fleer at mere ponderosity, skipped and whisked from left to right with fay-like airiness of foot until a thrill of delight went through the camp.

From Tropic Days by Banfield, E. J. (Edmund James)

Ah! would you fleer me! his lordship among revellers! oh! the blest prodigy! well, well, I give no promise, mark; but should a certain damsel lack a partner, adod.

From The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor Volume I, Number 1 by Carpenter, S. C. (Stephen Cullen)

But as she passed through the portal down the steps of the turret, she flung back certain words with a defiant fleer.

From The Black Douglas by Richards, Frank