flail
[ fleyl ]
/ fleɪl /
noun
an instrument for threshing grain, consisting of a staff or handle to one end of which is attached a freely swinging stick or bar.
a similar instrument used as a weapon of war.
verb (used with or without object)
to beat or swing with or as if with a flail.
Origin of flail
before 1100; Middle English
fleil (noun), Old English
flighel (probably misspelling of
*flegil), cognate with Dutch
vlegel, German
Flegel < West Germanic
*flagil- < Late Latin
flagellum flail, Latin: whip, scourge. See
flagellum
Words nearby flail
flagstad,
flagstaff,
flagstick,
flagstone,
flaherty,
flail,
flail chest,
flail joint,
flair,
flak,
flak jacket
Example sentences from the Web for flail
British Dictionary definitions for flail
flail
/ (fleɪl) /
noun
an implement used for threshing grain, consisting of a wooden handle with a free-swinging metal or wooden bar attached to it
a weapon so shaped used in the Middle Ages
verb
(tr)
to beat or thrash with or as if with a flail
to move or be moved like a flail; thresh about
with arms flailing
Word Origin for flail
C12
fleil, ultimately from Late Latin
flagellum flail, from Latin: whip
Medical definitions for flail
flail
[ flāl ]
v.
To move vigorously or erratically; thrash about.
To strike or lash out violently.