To quarrel or scold; to engage in abusive or insulting speech.
From Old Norse 'flyta' (to scold) or Old English 'flītan' (to quarrel), used since medieval times, especially in Scots and Northern English dialects.
The word 'flite' and its related Scottish 'flyting' tradition—where poets would compete in exchanges of creative insults—shows how different cultures turned arguments into art forms, and this verbal sparring influenced Scottish literature for centuries.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.