flop, noun

Forms:
Also flap.
Origin:
See quotations 1899 and 1900.
Any of several birds of the genus Euplectes (family Ploceidae), especially the redshouldered widow, E. axillaris. See also sakabula.
1899 R.B. & J.D.S. Woodward Natal Birds 69 (Pettman)The boys call it flop, no doubt from the way in which it suddenly stops in its flight and alights on the grass.
1900 Stark & Sclater Birds of S. Afr. I. 134Urobrachya axillaris, Red-shouldered Widow Bird...‘Flop’ of Natal Colonists...In spring the handsome males..may be seen flitting over the reeds or grass with a curious ‘flopping’ flight.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 173Flop, The, Urobrachya axillaris is so-called in Natal.
1978 McLachlan & Liversidge Roberts Birds of S. Afr. 582Males often fly about rather aimlessly just above the grass, bobbing up and down and suddenly twisting backwards and dropping down on to some conspicuous perch — hence the trivial name of ‘flap’.
[1980 A.J. Blignaut Dead End Rd 92Wasn’t the predikant funny — his beard bobbed up and down like a flap-finch’s tail.]
1983 K.B. Newman Newman’s Birds 444Popular bird names in general use...Flop — Longtailed Widowbird.
Any of several birds of the genus Euplectes (family Ploceidae), especially the redshouldered widow, E. axillaris.
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floor, nounn.floppy, nounn.
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