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
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Origin and Etymology 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
flail
Definition of flail
transitive verb
1a : to strike with or as if with a flail The bird's wings flailed 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 arms flailing in the water
Examples of flail in a Sentence
They were flailing their arms to drive away the insects.
The wounded animal lay on the ground, flailing helplessly.
He was wildly flailing about on the dance floor.
The bird's wings flailed the water.
Origin and Etymology of flail
see 1flail
FLAIL Defined for English Language Learners
flail
playDefinition of flail for English Language Learners
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: a long-handled tool that was used in the past for beating wheat so that the grain would become separated from the wheat
flail
Definition of flail for English Language Learners
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: to move or swing your arms or legs in a wild and uncontrolled way
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: to strike or hit (something or someone) in a wild and uncontrolled way
FLAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of flail for Students
flailed
;flailing
1 : to wave the arms or legs wildly
2 : to swing something with a violent motion
Medical Dictionary
flail
playMedical 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
Learn More about flail
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See words that rhyme with flail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flail Spanish Central: Translation of flail Nglish: Translation of flail for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flail
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