flusk

Uncertain. Likely from Middle English *flusken, a variant of flusshen (“to move rapidly, dart”), the same origin as flush. Perhaps from Old Norse *flugsa (“to flap, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flugisōną (“to flutter”); compare Norwegian Nynorsk flugsa (“to flutter”), Norwegian Bokmål flugse (“to flutter”). Compare also Norwegian flogsa, flogse (“to run around, frolic, flirt”), Faroese flogsa (“to gad about, solicit”).

flusk (third-person singular simple present flusks, present participle flusking, simple past and past participle flusked)

1. (intransitive, Northern England) To make a whirring or fluttering sound.
2. (intransitive, Northern England) To fly at; ruffle up the feathers.
3. (intransitive, Northern England) To quarrel.
4. (transitive, Northern England) To startle or confuse.

• flusker

flusk (plural flusks)

1. (Northern England) A whirring sound.
2. (Northern England) A flutter.
3. (Northern England) A quarrel, contention, skirmish, fight.