From flitter + mouse (compare flickermouse, flindermouse), after Middle Dutch fleddermuys, vledermuys, vlermuys (Modern Dutch vleermuis), from Middle Dutch vledderen, vlederen + muys. Cognate with West Frisian flearmus ("bat"), Middle Low German vledermūs ("bat"), German Fledermaus ("bat"), Swedish fladdermus ("bat") and flädermus (“bat”). More at flitter, flutter, flatter, mouse.
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