flayed; flaying; flays
Definition of flay
1
: to strip off the skin or surface of : skin
The hunter flayed the rabbit and prepared it for cooking.
2
: to criticize harshly : excoriate
He was flayed by the media for his controversial comments.
3
: lash sense 1b
the wind whipped up to gale fury, flaying his face— Richard Kent
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for flay
The first known use of flay was before the 12th century
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