FLEXIBILITY, FLEXIBLE
ADJECTIVES
► BAIN flexible, lithe, supple, limber, pliant → c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► BEISUM pliable, flexible, docile → a1225 obs.
► BENDSOME pliable, yielding, flexible → 1861
► FLIP nimble; pliant; flexible → 1847 Eng. dial.
► HICKORY flexible, yielding → 1872 Amer. dial.
► JELLO flexible, agreeable → 1971 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► LAINGE subtle; flexible → 1750 Eng. dial.
► LEATHWAKE having the joints flexible; hence, generally, pliant, soft → c1000 obs. exc. N. Eng. dial.
► LETHE flexible, supple → c1440 obs.
► LIMBERY limber, flexible → 1930 Amer. dial.
► MANIABLE easy to handle; flexible, pliable, workable → 1484 obs.
► PERSH pliant; flexible → 1398 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► SAMPLE soft, supple, flexible → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► WAFFLE supple, flexible, pliant, limber → 1808 Sc.
► WAMFLE limp, flaccid, flexible, pliant, weak, useless → 1866 Sc.
► WANDLE flexible, supple; slim and straight → 1808 Eng. dial.
► WITHY like a withe; tough and flexible, leathery → 1822 Amer. dial.
NOUNS
► ELASTICITY capacity for being ‘stretched’; expansiveness, flexibility, accommodatingness → 1858
NOUNS – PERSON
► LIMBER JACK a loose-jointed, flexible person; a contortionist → 1909 Amer. dial.
► LIMBER JIM a loose-jointed, flexible person; a contortionist → c1930 Amer. dial.