flounce1

[flouns] /flaʊns/
verb (used without object), flounced, flouncing.
1.
to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements:
The star flounced out of the studio in a rage.
2.
to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.
noun
3.
an act or instance of flouncing; a flouncing movement.
Origin
1535-45; of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry
Synonyms
1. storm, bound, prance, bounce.

flounce2

[flouns] /flaʊns/
noun
1.
a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.
verb (used with object), flounced, flouncing.
2.
to trim with flounces.
Origin
1665-75; alteration of frounce
Examples from the web for flounce
  • Designers try to steer a new course through fashion doldrums with collections that flounce, flow and flatter.
  • She turned with a flounce that belied the neat smoothness of her hair and the soft youthfulness of her round face.
  • It fastens at the left side in a bow with short loops and long ends, which reach almost to the hem of the flounce.
British Dictionary definitions for flounce

flounce1

/flaʊns/
verb
1.
(intransitive; often foll by about, away, out, etc) to move or go with emphatic or impatient movements
noun
2.
the act of flouncing
Word Origin
C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flunsa to hurry, Swedish flunsa to splash

flounce2

/flaʊns/
noun
1.
an ornamental gathered ruffle sewn to a garment by its top edge
Word Origin
C18: from Old French fronce wrinkle, from froncir to wrinkle, of Germanic origin
Word Origin and History for flounce
v.

1540s, "to dash, plunge, flop," perhaps from Scandinavian (cf. dialectal Swedish flunsa "to plunge," Norwegian flunsa "to hurry," but first record of these is 200 years later than the English word), said to be of imitative origin. Spelling likely influenced by bounce. Notions of "anger, impatience" began to adhere to the word 18c. Related: Flounced; flouncing. As a noun, from 1580s as a motion.

n.

"wide ruffle," 1713, from Middle English frounce "pleat, wrinkle, fold" (late 14c.), from Old French fronce "line, wrinkle; pucker, crease, fold," from Frankish *hrunkjan "to wrinkle," from Proto-Germanic *hrunk-. Influenced in form by flounce (v.).