fleer

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

fleer, n. 

 One who flees.  Ld. Berners.  [1913 Webster]

fleer, imp. & p. p. [OE. flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.].

•  To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout.  [1913 Webster]

  "To fleer and scorn at our solemnity."  [1913 Webster]
•  To grin with an air of civility; to leer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting."  [1913 Webster]

fleer, v. t. 

 To mock; to flout at.  Beau. & Fl.  [1913 Webster]

fleer, n. 

•  A word or look of derision or mockery.  [1913 Webster]

  "And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn."  [1913 Webster]
•  A grin of civility; a leer.  [1913 Webster]

  "A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

fleer, v. & n.
--v.intr. laugh impudently or mockingly; sneer; jeer.
--n. a mocking look or speech.

Etymology

ME, prob. f. Scand.: cf. Norw. & Sw. dial. flira to grin

THESAURUS

fleer

Parthian shot, affront, back answer, barrack, be merry with, call names, caustic remark, chaff, comeback, crack, crack a joke, crack wise, cut, cut at, cutting remark, dig, dig at, dishonor, disoblige, dump, dump on, fleer at, flout, foolery, fun, gibe, gibe at, gibing retort, gird, give offense to, grin, humiliate, hurl a brickbat, insult, jab, jab at, jape, jeer, jeer at, jest, jibe at, joke, josh, kid, kid around, leer, leg-pull, make a funny, make fun, make fun of, mock, offend, outrage, parting shot, play on words, poke fun at, pooh, pooh-pooh, pun, put down, put-down, put-on, quip, rail at, rally, rank out, revile, ridicule, rude reproach, sardonic grin, scintillate, scoff, scoff at, scornful laugh, scout, scurrility, short answer, slam, slap, slap at, smile, smirk, sneer, sneer at, snicker, snigger, snort, sparkle, swipe, taunt, treat with indignity, twit, utter a mot, verbal thrust, wisecrack

ROGET THESAURUS

fleer

Ridicule

VB ridicule, deride, mock, taunt, snigger, laugh in one's sleeve, tease, badinage, banter, rally, chaff, joke, twit, quiz, roast, haze, tehee, fleer, show up, play upon, play tricks upon, fool to the top of one's bent, laugh at, grin at, smile at, poke fun at, satirize, parody, caricature, burlesque, travesty, turn into ridicule, make merry with, make fun of, make game of, make a fool of, make an April fool of, rally, scoff, raise a laugh, play the fool, make a fool of oneself.

Disrespect

VB hold in disrespect, misprize, disregard, slight, trifle with, set at naught, pass by, push aside, overlook, turn one's back upon, laugh in one's sleeve, be disrespectful, be discourteous, treat with disrespect, set down, put down, browbeat, dishonor, desecrate, insult, affront, outrage, speak slightingly of, disparage, vilipend, vilify, call names, throw dirt, fling dirt, drag through the mud, point at, indulge in personalities, make mouths, make faces, bite the thumb, take by the beard, pluck by the beard, toss in a blanket, tar and feather, have in derision, hold in derision, deride, scoff, barrack, sneer, laugh at, snigger, ridicule, gibe, mock, jeer, hiss, hoot, taunt, twit, niggle, gleek, gird, flout, fleer, roast, turn into ridicule, burlesque, laugh to scorn, smoke, fool, make game of, make a fool of, make an April fool of, play a practical joke, lead one a dance, run the rig upon, have a fling at, scout, mob.