flapping
noun1
An instance where one, or something, flaps.
- The farmyard was dark and he tiptoed across it so that the turkeys wouldn't set up their gobbling and flapping.1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 24:
2
Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonology, Sciences A phonological process found in many dialects of English, especially American English and Canadian English, by which intervocalic /t/ and /d/ surface as the alveolar flap [ɾ] before an unstressed syllable, so that words such as "metal" and "medal" are pronounced similarly or identically.
3
Communications, Computing, Electrical engineering, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences, Telecommunications The situation where a resource, a network destination, etc., is advertised as being available and then unavailable (or available by different routes) in rapid succession.
4
The unlicensed racing of horses or greyhounds.
- Greyhound racing had its origins in whippet racing, which was derived in turn from hare coursing. By the early twentieth century, however, a form of dog racing held in 'flapping tracks' was a common pastime in the wastelands near working-class areas of industrial cities.2009, Mark Clapson, The Routledge Companion to Britain in the Twentieth Century, page 332:
- Flapping is racing which is not licensed by the Jockey Club. […] Anyone found participating in, or even attending, flapping races is liable to be warned off.2016, Gerald Hammond, The Language of Horse Racing, page 81:
1 more example
- Flapping is the arse end of greyhound racing, the lowest of the low. Part sport, part fairground attraction, flapping is the bare-knuckle fighting of dog racing.2016, David Matthews, Man Buys Dog: