Flittin’
Flittin’ means moving lightly or restlessly - darting, bustling, or flitting from place to place. The base word flitting is old English, but the dropped-g form flittin’ lives on in Southern and Appalachian speech.
#SouthernWords #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll heard people say 'flittin’ around' if you're out in the country, it's pretty common. Pronunciation
[FLIT-in] /ˈflɪtɪn/
Meaning & Usage
- Darting About / Moving Lightly (verb)
Mamaw:
That wren’s been flittin’ ’round the porch all mornin’.
That wren’s been flittin’ ’round the porch all mornin’.
Papaw:
Reckon she’s huntin’ a spot for her nest.
Reckon she’s huntin’ a spot for her nest.- Busy Fussing / Bustling (verb)
Elmer:
She’s been flittin’ through that kitchen since sunup.
She’s been flittin’ through that kitchen since sunup.
Estel:
Set a spell, honey - dinner’s near ’bout done.
Set a spell, honey - dinner’s near ’bout done.★ The dialect flavor comes from the pronunciation and the dropped g: write it as flittin’ in dialogue; use the base form flitting for headers, slugs, and SEO. ★
Origin and Etymology
From older English flit/flitting "to move lightly." The lively, everyday sense stuck in Appalachian and Southern communities, where it’s common in storytelling and conversation.
Usage Notes
Often paired with adverbs like "’round" and time markers: "flittin’ ’round here all evenin’." It can be affectionate or mildly scolding, depending on tone.