flapdragon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
ArchaicLiterary / Historical
Quick answer
What does “flapdragon” mean?
A historical game or tavern pastime involving snatching raisins or small items out of burning brandy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical game or tavern pastime involving snatching raisins or small items out of burning brandy.
The flaming object itself (like a raisin) that is caught and eaten during the game; can also refer metaphorically to any trifling or worthless object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and unused in modern English in both varieties. No regional preference found in historical texts.
Connotations
Conjures a specific, lively, and slightly dangerous Elizabethan or Jacobean tavern scene.
Frequency
Zero frequency in modern corpora. Found only in historical dictionaries and period literature (e.g., Shakespeare).
Grammar
How to Use “flapdragon” in a Sentence
to play flapdragonto snatch a flapdragonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flapdragon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They would flapdragon the raisins with great dexterity.
American English
- He flapdragoned the nut from the blue flame.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used only in historical, literary, or etymological studies.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flapdragon”
- Using it as a modern synonym for 'nonsense' or 'trifle' will sound artificially archaic and may confuse.
- Confusing it with 'snapdragon' (the flower or the modern game name).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term found only in historical texts and dictionaries.
'Snapdragon' is the modern name for the same or a very similar game, and also refers to a flower. 'Flapdragon' is the older term.
Yes, historically it could be used as a verb meaning to swallow or snatch something in the manner of the game.
You will most likely only encounter it in the works of Shakespeare, other Renaissance playwrights, or historical accounts of Tudor/Stuart pastimes.
A historical game or tavern pastime involving snatching raisins or small items out of burning brandy.
Flapdragon is usually literary / historical in register.
Flapdragon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflapˌdraɡ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflæpˌdræɡən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in active use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DRAGON flapping its wings over a FLAP (of a dish), trying to snatch a flaming raisin.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRIVIALITY / INSIGNIFICANCE IS A FLAPDRAGON (something caught in a flash of excitement but ultimately worthless).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'flapdragon' in its primary historical sense?