What is "to turn to flight"

Flight \Flight\ (fl[imac]t), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fle['o]gan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fle['o]n to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. [root]84. See Flee, Fly.]

1. The act of flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying.

   Like the night owl's lazy flight.
   --Shak.

2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape danger or expected evil; hasty departure.

   Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
   --Matt. xxiv. 20.

   Fain by flight to save themselves.
   --Shak.

3. Lofty elevation and excursion; a mounting; a soaring; as, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly.

   Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy.
   --Byron.

   His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor.
   --Macaulay.

4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows.
   --Swift.

   Swift flights of angels ministrant.
   --Milton.

   Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts.
   --Shak.

5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another.
   --Parker.

6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See Shaft. [Obs.]

   Challenged Cupid at the flight.
   --Shak.

   Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have.
   --Beau. & Fl.

7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.]
   --Wright.

8. a trip made by or in a flying vehicle, as an airplane, spacecraft, or aeronautical balloon.

9. A scheduled flight[8] on a commercial airline; as, the next flight leaves at 8 o'clock.

   Flight feathers (Zo["o]l.), the wing feathers of a bird, including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See Bird.

   To put to flight, To turn to flight, to compel to run away; to force to flee; to rout.

   to take a flight[9], to make a trip in an airplane, especially a scheduled flight[9].

   Syn: Pair; set. See Pair.