flew

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  (file)

• IPA^(key): /fluː/
• Rhymes: -uː
• Homophones: flu, flue

Unknown.

flew (plural flews)

1. (chiefly plural) The thick, dangling upper lip of certain breeds of dog, or the canine equivalent of the upper lip.
   • 1994, Kellerman, Jonathan, Bad Love (Alex Delaware; 8):

     He petted the dog. 'These little guys are pretty expensive and this one looks like a good specimen.' He lifted a flew. 'Well cared for, too - these teeth have been scaled pretty recently and his ears are clean - these upright ears can be receptacles for all kinds of stuff ... anyway, what seems to be your problem with him?'

   • 2014, Forde, Melanie, “SIX — Goblins”, in Hillwilla: A Novel, Mountain Lake Press:

     During the recitation, Eltie remained on her haunches, as she looked into Ralph's eyes, pulled down an eyelid, flipped up a flew, felt around his ribcage.

• flewed

From Middle English flew, flow, from Old English flēag, flug-, from Proto-Germanic *flaug, *flug-, past tense forms of Proto-Germanic *fleuganą (“to fly”). Compare Saterland Frisian flooch (“flew”), West Frisian fleach (“flew”), Dutch vloog (“flew”), German flog (“flew”), Danish fløj (“flew”), Swedish flög (“flew”), Icelandic flaug (“flew”).

flew

1. simple past tense of fly

• flue

flew (comparative more flew, superlative most flew)

1. (Britain, dialectal) shallow; flat

• fewl

flew

1. Soft mutation of blew.