'Flail' definitions:
Definition of 'flail'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Flail'
From: GCIDE
- Flail \Flail\, n. [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. fl['e]au. See Flagellum.]
- 1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand, consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing freely. [1913 Webster]
- His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. --Fairholt. [1913 Webster]
- No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'flail'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- bang,
- baste,
- bastinado,
- batter,
- beat,
- belabor,
- belt,
- birch,
- buffet,
- cane,
- club,
- cowhide,
- cudgel,
- cut,
- cut and thrust,
- drub,
- feint,
- flagellate,
- flail at,
- flail away at,
- flap,
- flog,
- fustigate,
- give a whipping,
- give the stick,
- hammer,
- hit at,
- horsewhip,
- knock,
- knout,
- lace,
- lambaste,
- larrup,
- lash,
- lash out at,
- lay on,
- let drive at,
- let fly at,
- lunge at,
- maul,
- paste,
- patter,
- pelt,
- pistol-whip,
- poke at,
- pommel,
- pound,
- pulverize,
- pummel,
- rap,
- rawhide,
- scourge,
- sledgehammer,
- smite,
- spank,
- strap,
- strike at,
- strike out at,
- stripe,
- swing at,
- swing on,
- swinge,
- switch,
- thrash,
- thresh,
- thrust at,
- thump,
- trounce,
- truncheon,
- wallop,
- whale,
- whip,
- whop