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   flail

   /fleɪl/

   noun

   • 1. a threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it.
   • ▪ a device similar to a flail, used as a weapon or for flogging.
   • ▪ a machine having a similar action to a flail, used for threshing or slashing: "a flail hedge trimmer"

   verb

   • 1. wave or swing wildly: "his arms flailed as he sought to maintain his balance" Similar waveswingthrash aboutflap aboutbeat aboutwindmillmove erratically
   • ▪ flounder; struggle uselessly: "I was flailing about in the water" Similar flounderstrugglethrashthreshsquirmwrigglewrithetwistsplashstumbleblunderfumblewiggletwitch
   • 2. beat or flog (someone): "he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane" Similar thrashbeatstrikebatterdrubflogwhiplashscourgeflayflagellatestrapswitchtancanetan/whip someone's hidegive someone a hidingbeat the living daylights out ofcloutweltbelabourinformal:wallopwhacklamgive someone a (good) hidinglarrup
   • ▪ cut (vegetation) with a flail: British "the modern practice of flailing hedges every year with mechanical cutters"

   Word Origin Old English, of West Germanic origin, based on Latin flagellum ‘whip’ (see flagellum); probably influenced in Middle English by Old French flaiel or Dutch vlegel.

   Scrabble Points: 8

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   • L

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