flighty

From flight +‎ -y. Compare Dutch vluchtig (“volatile; fleeting; cursory”), German flüchtig (“volatile; fleeting; momentary; quick”), Danish flygtig (“elusive; evasive”), Swedish flyktig.

• IPA^(key): /ˈflaɪti/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪti

flighty (comparative flightier, superlative flightiest)

1. Given to unplanned and silly ideas or actions.
2. (of a bird) That flies easily or often.
   • 2013, Diego Gil, Henrik Brumm, Avian Urban Ecology‎^[1]:

     "We know that flighty birds suffer from greater risk of raptor predation, and I assume that it is useful to understand the effects of urbanization because flighty species may be more vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance."

3. (dated) Swift.
   • 1962 July, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Modern Railways, page 44:

     Permanent way and other checks then somewhat slowed down this flighty progress.