Etymology Possibly from a Scandinavian source, compare Norwegian bokmål flire (“to giggle”), Jutish Danish flire.
1
Archaic To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn
LEONATO. Tush, tush, man! never fleer and jest at me: I speak not like a dotard nor a fool, As, under privilege of age, to brag What I have done being young, or what would do, Were I not old.1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, act 5, scene 1:
[…] he that writes a Play exposes himself without any Advantage to a parcel of fleering Criticks, who wonder at any Man for attempting so difficult a Business, and are only disappointed when he succeeds in’t.1705, William Grimston, 1st Viscount Grimston, “Preface”, in The Lawyer’s Fortune, or, Love in a Hollow Tree:
1 more example
[I]n short, sneering and fleering at him in her cold barren way[.]1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution: A History:
In the time of popery, before the gospel came amongst us, we went to burials with weeping and wailing, as though there were no God: but since the gospel came unto us, I have heard say, that in some places they go with the corses grinning and flearing, as though they went to a bear-baiting;[…]1552, Hugh Latimer, The Fifth Sermon Preached on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, 1552; republished in The Sermons of the Right Reverend Father in God, and Constant Martyr of Jesus Christ, Hugh Latimer, Some Time Bishop of Worcester, volume 2, London: James Duncan, 1824, page 212:
[…] And flattery tipt with nauseous fleer, And guilty shame, and servile fear, Envy, and cruelty, and pride, Will in your tainted heart preside.1720, Jonathan Swift, To Stella, visiting me in my sickness:
fleer
noun
/ˈfliːə(ɹ)/
Etymology From flee + -er.
1
One who flees.
Which fear of the fleers away was no less ignominious, then if[…]they had turned their backs to the enemie.1598, R. Grenewey, Annales, translation of original by Tacitus: