flounce

¹

[ flouns ]

verb (used without object)

flounced, flouncing.

1. to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements:

   The star flounced out of the studio in a rage.

   Synonyms: bounce, prance, bound, storm

2. to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.

noun

1. an act or instance of flouncing; a flouncing movement.

flounce

²

[ flouns ]

noun

1. a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.

verb (used with object)

flounced, flouncing.

1. to trim with flounces.

flounce

¹

/ flaʊns /

verb

1. intr; often foll by about, away, out, etc to move or go with emphatic or impatient movements

noun

1. the act of flouncing

flounce

²

/ flaʊns /

noun

1. an ornamental gathered ruffle sewn to a garment by its top edge

Word History and Origins

Origin of flounce¹

1535–45; of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry

Origin of flounce²

First recorded in 1665–75; alteration of obsolete frounce wrinkle

Word History and Origins

Origin of flounce¹

C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flunsa to hurry, Swedish flunsa to splash

Origin of flounce²

C18: from Old French fronce wrinkle, from froncir to wrinkle, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

Incensed that Williams is falling down drunk at a stadium show, his Barlow flounces up in a thong to hiss, “You’re making us look like fools out there!”

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, he was in one of the studios and we were in another studio the night that he flounced out.

From Los Angeles Times

During the trial, Trump acted out whenever he attended, even flouncing out of the courtroom at one point.

From Salon

I chanced a wan peek out of the flounce.

From Literature

For fall, diaphanous tiers of 1970s flounce in almost angelically light hues defined the show’s aesthetic inside a brutalist warehouse space.

From Seattle Times