Flail meaning
To flail is defined as to wave or swing about wildly or to flounder.
When you wave your arms around wildly, this is an example of flail.
verb
The definition of a flail is a farm tool that is a long-handled stick that is swung to thresh grain.
An example of a flail is a tool used to toss grain up in the air.
noun
A manual threshing device consisting of a long wooden handle or staff and a shorter, free-swinging stick attached to its end.
noun
To beat or strike with or as if with a flail.
Flailed our horses with the reins.
verb
To wave or swing vigorously; thrash.
Flailed my arms to get their attention.
verb
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To thresh using a flail.
verb
To move vigorously or erratically; thrash about.
Arms flailing helplessly in the water.
verb
To strike or lash out violently.
Boxers flailing at each other in the ring.
verb
To thresh grain.
verb
A farm tool consisting of a free-swinging stick tied to the end of a long handle, used to thresh grain.
noun
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To thresh with a flail.
verb
To strike or beat as with a flail.
verb
To move (one's arms) about like flails.
Flailing about in vain attempts to establish a career.
verb
(intransitive) To move like a flail.
He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.
verb
Origin of flail
- Middle English from Old English flegil and from Old French flaiel both from Late Latin flagellum threshing tool from Latin flagrum whip
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 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- ("to beat, hit, strike; weep"; compare Lithuanian plàkti (“to whip, lash, flog”), Ancient Greek πληγνύναι (plēgnýnai, “strike, hit, encounter”), Latin plangō (“lament", i.e. "beat one's breast”)) + Proto-Germanic *-ilaz (instrumental suffix); or a borrowing of Latin flagellum, diminutive of flagrum (“scourge, whip”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlag-, *bʰlaǵ- ("to beat"; compare Old Norse blekkja (“to beat, mistreat”)). Compare also Old French flael (“flail”), Italian flagello (“scourge, whip, plague”).
From Wiktionary