Etymology From Middle English flykke (“light blow or stroke”). Later uses apparently interpreted as a back-formation from flicker. The use of flick to mean a film or movie derives from the fact that early films had a low frame rate, thus causing the film to "flick" rapidly when projected onto a screen.
A short, quick movement, especially a brush, sweep, or flip.
He removed the speck of dust with a flick of his finger.
She gave a disdainful flick of her hair and marched out of the room.
1 more example
On this occasion it was Nolan's deft flick that fooled West Ham's sleepy defenders Danny Gabbidon and Tomkins. The ball found its way to Best, who smashed in with confidence from the edge of the area.2011 January 5, Saj Chowdhury, “Newcastle 0 - 0 West Ham”, in BBC:
2
Informal A motion picture, movie, film; (in plural, usually preceded by "the") movie theater, cinema.
My all-time favorite flick is "Gone with the Wind."
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports, Tennis A powerful underarm volley shot.
The fourth seed was dominating her 20-year-old opponent with a series of stinging groundstrokes and athletic drive-volleys, striking again in game five when Paszek flicked a forehand pick-up into the tramlines.2011 June 28, David Ornstein, “Wimbledon 2011: Victoria Azarenka beats Tamira Paszek in quarters”, in BBC Sport:
5
The act of pressing a place on a touch screen device.
6
A flitch.
a flick of bacon
7
A unit of time, equal to 1/705,600,000 of a second.
8
Dated, Slang A chap or fellow; sometimes as a friendly term of address.
'All that I have, dear old flick, is yours for the asking. What can I do?'1920, H. C. McNeile, Bulldog Drummond:
I was taking some flicks of the [p]arade […] and [someone] asked […] if I would like to take a picture of him[.]1968 April 29, William Gilson, “Loyalty Day”, in Berkley Barb:
Etymology From Middle English flykke (“light blow or stroke”). Later uses apparently interpreted as a back-formation from flicker. The use of flick to mean a film or movie derives from the fact that early films had a low frame rate, thus causing the film to "flick" rapidly when projected onto a screen.
1
To move or hit (something) with a short, quick motion.
flick one's hair
to flick the dirt from boots
2 more examples
Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013:
the Queen, flicking the snuff off her sleeve[…]1860, William Makepeace Thackeray, The English Humourists of the Eighteenth Century and Charity and Humour:
2
To pass by rapidly, so as not to be perceived clearly.
Near-synonym: flit
They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes flick past.1997, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: