flappity

English

Etymology

flap +‎ -ity

Interjection

flappity

1. Nonce variation of the word flap, usually indicating a series of small or ineffective flaps.
   • 1878, Arthur Sketchley, Mrs. Brown at the Paris exhibition, page 108:

     Jest then in come Mrs. Pelto with one of them French sisters with the flappity caps, the same as 'ad been in the mornin', and come from the 'Ospital.

   • 1991, Don Dickinson, Blue Husbands, page 66:

     ‘Flappity, flappity, flappity,’ the thin man sang. ‘Cut it out,’ Grissom said.

   • 2004, Nelson Mandela, editor, Favorite African Folktales, page 216:

     ... I was mindful of the hissings and shoutings coming from the cave and thought an interesting foreign gentleman would be a good distraction for them, even if he did land up going flappity, flappity down the mountain on little webbed feet.