In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
fleer
(noun) contempt expressed by mockery in looks or words
fugitive, runaway, fleer
(noun) someone who flees from an uncongenial situation; “fugitives from the sweatshops”
fleer
(verb) to smirk contemptuously
Source: WordNet® 3.1
fleer (third-person singular simple present fleers, present participle fleering, simple past and past participle fleered)
(archaic) To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn
Synonyms: deride, sneer, mock, gibe, Thesaurus:deride
(archaic) To grin with an air of civility; to leer.
Synonyms: fligger, Thesaurus:to smile
fleer (uncountable)
(archaic) mockery; derision
fleer (plural fleers)
one who flees
• Freel, refel
Source: Wiktionary
Fle"er, n.
Definition: One who flees. Ld. Berners.
Fleer, [imp. & p. p. Fleered (; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering.] Etym: [OE. flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.]
1. 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. To fleer and scorn at our solemnity. Shak.
2. To grin with an air of civility; to leer. [Obs.] Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting. Latimer.
Fleer, v. t.
Definition: To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl.
Fleer, n.
1. A word or look of derision or mockery. And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn. Shak.
2. A grin of civility; a leer. [Obs.] A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers. South.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
15 April 2025
(adjective) marked by or promising bad fortune; “their business venture was doomed from the start”; “an ill-fated business venture”; “an ill-starred romance”; “the unlucky prisoner was again put in irons”- W.H.Prescott
In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.