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The OxED has for its third noun entry:
Etymology: < German flitter.
‘A minute square of thin metal, used in decoration; collectively, a quantity of such squares’ ( Cent. Dict.).
18.. Beck's Jrnl. Dec. Art 2 40 (Cent. Dict. Suppl.) Strong and brilliant colors are freely used, together with gilt flitter, in the representation of flowering plants, fountains, and other devices [for window-shades].
A Ngram search found many books containing flitter but on the first page of books from 1825 to 1908 was this one.
Since there was a significant German influence in the central US, this origin is likely. BTW, it is a phrase also heard in southwest Missouri.
EmmettRedd said
Since there was a significant German influence in the central US, this origin is likely.
I recently read that there are more Americans of German ethnicity than English.
Not that it really matters. Until 1917,the house of Windsor caslled itself the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and made no effort to hide their German heritage.
I decided to try flat as a flitter at this Google Ngram. This is the earliest I found in 1899.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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