Flire

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To smile in a mocking or scornful way ; a person who fawns over others to win their favour
2. To grin with a sneering, derisive expression ; one who flatters someone insincerely in order to gain something
3. To curl the lip in a scornful grin ; a fawning individual who offers excessive praise to win approval

Etymology: "Flire" survives mainly in Scots and northern English dialect. It names a person who flatters or fawns, and as a verb it means to coax someone with flattery. It is a variant of "fleer," the older form behind the sense of sneering or mocking with a grin, and the two spellings overlapped in use. Flattery and mockery both work through a smirk or sidelong look, which helps explain why the word's meanings stretch between them. The word is probably of Scandinavian origin, though the exact source is uncertain. Its northern and Scots distribution suggests contact with Norse speakers rather than descent through the standard southern vocabulary.