1887. R. A. Proctor, Knowledge, June 1. When, in America, General Grant said he had put his foot down and meant to advance in that line if it took him all the summer, he conveyed ... the American meaning of the expression flat-footed. Flat-head, subs. (American).—A greenhorn; a sammy-soft (q.v.). Flat-iron, subs. (common).—A corner public house. [From the triangular shape.] Flattie or Flatty, subs. (common).—A gull. [A diminutive of flat, sense 1.] Formerly ‘cheap-jacks’ = one in a new ‘pitch.’ 1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. They betray to the flatties (natives) all their profits and proceedings. Flat-move, subs. (old).—An attempt or project that miscarries; folly and mismanagement generally.—Grose. Flats, subs. (old). 1. Playing cards. For synonyms, see King’s Books. 1821. Haggart, Life, p. 56. We played at flats in a budging-crib. 2. (old).—False dice. For synonyms, see Fulhams. 3. (old).—Base money. Mahogany flats, subs. phr. (common).—Bed-bugs. For synonyms, see Norfolk Howards. Flats and Sharps, subs. phr. (old).—Weapons. 1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, ch. xxx. ‘I have known many a pretty lad cut short in his first summer upon the road, because he was something hasty with his flats and sharps.’ Flatten Out, verb. phr. (American).—To get the better of (in argument or fight). For synonyms, see Floor. Flattened-out = ruined; beaten. Flatter-trap, subs. (common).—The mouth. Fr., la menteuse, but for synonyms, see Potato-trap. 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. Flatty-ken, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. 1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 261. Some take up their abode in what they call flatty-kens, that is, houses the landlord of which is not ‘awake’ or ‘fly’ to the ‘moves’ and dodges of the trade. Flawed, ppl. adj. (common).—1. Half drunk; ‘a little crooked’; quick-tempered.—Grose. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed. 2. (venery).—‘Cracked in the ring’; i.e., deflowered. Flay (or flay the fox), verb. phr. (old).—To vomit: ‘from the subject to the effect,’ says Cotgrave; ‘for the flaying of so stinking a beast is like enough to make them spue that feel it.’ Now, to shoot the cat. For synonyms, see Accounts and Cast up Accounts. Cf., Fox, verb, sense 1. 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. xi. He would flay the fox. 2. (American).—To clean out by unfair means. To flay or skin a flint, verb. phr. (old).—To be mean or miserly. See Skinflint. 1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Canting Crew, s.v. He’ll flay or skinn a flint of a Meer Scrat or Miser. 1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, vol. II., p. 194 (ed. 1846). Report says she would skin a flint if she could. Flaybottom or Flaybottomist, subs. (common).—A schoolmaster, with a play on the word phlebotomist = a blood-letter.—Grose. Fr., fouette-cul; and (Cotgrave) “Fesse-cul, a pedantical whip-arse.”