E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Flirt.
A conquette. The word is from the verb flirt, as, “to flirt a fan.” The fan being used for coquetting, those who coquetted were called fan-flirts. Lady Frances Shirley, the favourite of Lord Chesterfield, introduced the word. Flirt is allied to flutter, flit, jerk, etc.
