## Meanings
1. To move up and down or back and forth, especially wings.
2. A flat piece of something that hangs down or covers an opening.
3. A state of worry or excitement; a fuss.

## Examples
- The bird flapped its wings and flew away.
- He lifted the flap of the envelope to read the letter.
- The comment caused quite a flap in the newspapers.

## Derived Forms
- aflap
- alloflap
- beflapped
- bookflap
- cap-flap
- doorflap
- earflap
- eyeflap
- flap-doodle
- flap-eared
- flapjack
- flapless

## Related Forms
- fold
- lappet

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: flap

## Etymology
From Middle English flap, flappe (“a slap; blow; buffet; fly-flap; something flexible or loose; flap”), related to Saterland Frisian Flappert (“wing, flipper”), Middle Dutch flabbe (“a blow; slap on the face; fly-flap; flap”) (modern Dutch flap (“flap”)), Middle Low German flabbe, vlabbe, flebbe, from the verb (see below). Related also to English flab and flabby.

## AI Etymology
Flap comes from Middle English flap, flappe (“a slap; blow; buffet; fly-flap; something flexible or loose; flap”), related to Saterland Frisian Flappert (“wing, flipper”), Middle Dutch flabbe (“a blow; slap on the face; fly-flap; flap”) (modern Dutch flap (“flap”)), Middle Low German flabbe, vlabbe, flebbe, from the verb (see below). Related also to English flab and flabby. In current use, the main senses are “To move up and down or back and forth, especially wings” and “A flat piece of something that hangs down or covers an opening”.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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