flail

¹flail

noun \ˈflāl\

Definition of FLAIL

: a hand threshing implement consisting of a wooden handle at the end of which a stouter and shorter stick is so hung as to swing freely

Origin of FLAIL

Middle English fleil, flail, partly from Old English *flegel (whence Old English fligel), from Late Latin flagellum flail, from Latin, whip & partly from Anglo-French flael, from Late Latin flagellum — more at flagellate

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

Rhymes with FLAIL

ail, ale, bail, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, shale, snail, stale, swale, tael, tail, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale

²flail

verb

Definition of FLAIL

transitive verb

1

a : to strike with or as if with a flail <arms flailing the water>

b : to move, swing, or beat as if wielding a flail <flailing a club to drive away the insects>

2

: to thresh (grain) with a flail

intransitive verb

: to move, swing, or beat like a flail

Examples of FLAIL

1. They were flailing their arms to drive away the insects.
2. The wounded animal lay on the ground, flailing helplessly.
3. He was wildly flailing about on the dance floor.
4. The bird's wings flailed the water.

First Known Use of FLAIL

15th century

Related to FLAIL

Synonyms

beat, flap, flop, flutter, whip

Related Words

bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump; flick, flicker, flit; fan, oscillate, sway, swing; undulate, wave; palpitate, pulse, throb

flail

adjective \ˈflā(ə)l\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FLAIL

: exhibiting abnormal mobility and loss of response to normal controls—used of body parts damaged by paralysis, injury, or surgery <flail joint>