Flight \Flight\ (fl[imac]t), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fle['o]gan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fle['o]n to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. [root]84. See Flee, Fly.]

1. The act or flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying.

Like the night owl's lazy flight. --Shak.

2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected evil; hasty departure.

Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. --Matt. xxiv. 20.

Fain by flight to save themselves. --Shak.

3. Lofty elevation and excursion;a mounting; a soa?ing; as, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly.

Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy. --Byron.

His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor. --Macaulay.

4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows. --Swift.

Swift flights of angels ministrant. --Milton.

Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. --Shak.

5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. --Parker.

6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See Shaft. [Obs.]

Challenged Cupid at the flight. --Shak.

Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have. --Beau. & Fl.

7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.]

--Wright.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)