Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

falanga

noun
Save Word
fa·​lan·​ga | \ fəˈläŋgə, -aŋ- \
plural -s

Definition of falanga

: a method of torture in which the soles of the feet are beaten

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for falanga

probably from New Greek phalanga, oblique form of phalangas bastinado, modification (probably influenced by New Greek phalangi roller put under a ship) of Turkish falaka whiffletree, staff and loop for holding the feet of a bastinado victim, bastinado, from Arabic falaqa

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about falanga

Statistics for falanga

Cite this Entry

“Falanga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/falanga. Accessed 18 Sep. 2020.

Comments on falanga

What made you want to look up falanga? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

delve

Listen to the pronunciation of delve

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three bears two of them look like theyre whispering to a third bear who looks chuffed to be the center of attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games