Flail

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fleɪl/
• Rhymes: -eɪl

Origin

From Middle English flaile, flayle, from earlier Middle English fleil, fleyl, fleȝȝl, flegl, from Old English fligel, *flegel ("flail"), from Proto-Germanic *flagilaz ("flail, whip"), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots flail ("a thresher's flail"), West Frisian fleil, flaaiel ("flail"), Dutch vlegel ("flail"), Low German vlegel ("flail"), German Flegel ("flail"). Possibly a native Germanic form from Proto-Germanic *flag-, *flah- ("to whip, beat"), from Proto-Indo-European *plak-, *plāk- () + Proto-Germanic *-ilaz; or a borrowing of Latin flagellum, diminutive of flagrum ("scourge, whip"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlag-, *bʰlaǵ- (). Compare also Old French flael ("flail"), Italian flagello ("scourge, whip, plague").

Full definition of flail

Noun

1. A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle with a shorter stick attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.
2. A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.

Coordinate terms

• (weapon) nunchaku

Verb

1. (transitive) To beat using a flail or similar implement.
2. (transitive) To wave or swing vigorously
• 1937, H. P. Lovecraft, He stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards.
3. (transitive) To thresh.
4. (intransitive) To move like a flail.He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.

Synonyms

• (to wave, to swing) thrash